NAFTA Surface Trade Jumps 18.1% in July

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 18.1% in July from a year ago, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners rose to $72.4 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.

Month-to-month trade, which is affected by seasonal factors, slipped 6.7% from June.

U.S.-Canada trade rose 17% to $42.5 billion, while U.S.-Mexico trade jumped 19.7% to $29.9 billion.

Truck imports to the United States rose 11% year-over-year to $23.7 billion, while exports rose 13% to $25.9 billion.

Rail imports rose 37.5% to $7.6 billion, while exports rose 33.7% to $4.4 billion. Pipeline imports increased 32.1% to $6.4 billion, while exports jumped almost 250% to $796 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.