NAFTA Surface Trade Rises in May

Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico jumped 39.5% in May, the largest increase since records began, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.

The year-to-year increase to $66.8 billion in trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners left the index 9.9% below the level for the same month in 2008.

Trade rose 1.5% from April’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 third month new record percentage in the last four months. Records began in April 1994.

Truck imports to the United States rose 34.2% from a year earlier to $23.1 billion, while exports rose 37.7% to $24 billion.

Rail imports jumped 67.1% to $7.4 billion, while exports increased 47.1% to $4.1 billion. Pipeline imports rose 70.8% to $5 billion, while exports gained 1.3% to $308 million.

U.S.-Canada trade increased 37.5% to $40.2 billion. The value of truck imports to the U.S. rose 32%, while truck exports jumped 34.5%.

U.S.-Mexico trade gained 42.7% to $26.6 billion. The value of truck imports into the U.S. rose 41%, while truck exports rose 44.9%.

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