NAFTA Surface Trade Rises 12.1%
Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico increased 12.1% in April from a year ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners reached $73.8 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in its monthly report.
U.S. surface trade with Canada and Mexico was up 48.3% from April 2009 but remained 0.7% below the early recession level of April 2008.
U.S. truck imports in April 2011 rose 8.1% year-over-year to $24.6 billion, while exports gained 12.5% to $26.3 billion.
Rail imports rose 13.5% to $8.2 billion, while exports increased 12.6% to $4.5 billion. Pipeline imports rose 11.9% to $5.5 billion and exports rose 158.2% to $981 million.
U.S.-Canada trade rose 11.8% year-over-year to $44.6 billion, DOT said. U.S.-Mexico trade improved 12.4% to $29.1 billion.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. Almost 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.
