NAFTA Trade Gains 5.2%; Truck Trade Dips

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico was 3.9% higher in June than a year earlier, though truck trade declined, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.

Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners reached $69.5 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.

U.S. imports by truck dipped 0.2% year-over-year to $24.5 billion, while truck exports fell 1.3% to $23 billion.

Rail imports rose 5.9% to $8.4 billion, while exports jumped 13.3% to $3.6 billion.

Pipeline imports rose 21.1% $5.2 billion, while exports jumped 211.4% to $617 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.