NAFTA Surface Trade Jumps in April
Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 32.4% in April, the third straight jump of at least 24%, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.
The year-to-year increase to $65.8 billion in trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners left the index 11.4% below the level for the same month in 2008.
Trade fell 5.9% from March’s level, though monthly changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.
The year-to-year increase was the fifth straight following March’s 37% increase, which had been a record jump. Last December was the first year-over-year gain since September 2008.
Truck imports to the United States rose 26.6% from a year earlier to $22.8 billion, while exports rose 30.4% to $23.4 billion.
Rail imports jumped 58.8% to $7.2 billion, while exports increased 42.7% to $4 billion. Pipeline imports rose 59.7% to $4.9 billion, while exports gained 48.4% to $380 million.
U.S.-Canada trade increased 32.1% to $39.9 billion. The value of truck imports to the U.S. rose 21.5%, while truck exports jumped 31.6%.
U.S.-Mexico trade gained 32.8% to $25.9 billion. The value of truck imports into the U.S. rose 31.2%, while truck exports rose 28.6%.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. Almost 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.
