Nafta Surface Trade Gains 5.5%

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 5.5% in September from a year earlier, the Transportation Department said Thursday.

Trade surface among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners reached $66.8 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.

U.S. imports by truck fell 0.5% year-over-year to $12.6 billion, while exports rose 8.5% to $15 billion.

Rail imports rose 18% to $5.7 billion, while exports jumped 20.9% to $2.3 billion.

Pipeline imports fell 1.6% $4.1 billion, while exports gained 132.6% to $325 million, DOT said.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.