NAFTA Surface Trade Increases in December
Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico grew in December from a year earlier, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners increased 10.5% year-to-year, to $58.5 billion.
The increase was the first year-to-year increase since September 2008. December's trade was 4% lower than Decmber 2007.
In November, trade fell 2.9% compared with November 2008, DOT said.
Truck imports to the United States rose 6.5% from a year earlier to $19.2 billion, while exports grew 10.9% to $20.6 billion.
Rail imports jumped 22.6% to $6.5 billion, while exports increased 10.2% to $3.3 billion. Pipeline imports increased 16.9% to $5.1 billion, while exports jumped 42.7% to $373 million.
U.S.-Canada trade gained 7.8% to $35.5 billion, while the value of truck imports to the U.S. dropped 2.3% and the value of truck exports grew 11.2%.
U.S.-Mexico trade increased 15% to $23 billion. The value of truck imports rose 15.5% and the value of truck exports rose 10.4%.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.
