The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau Statistics (BST) recently announced that North American Free Trade Agreement surface transportation shipments between the U.S., Canada and Mexico rose 14.8% between March 2006 and a year prior to total $68.2 billion in goods, the highest monthly level ever recorded.
The previous monthly high was $64 billion in October 2005. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land, the bureau announced.
BTS, a part of the Research Innovative Technology Administration, reported that total North American surface transportation trade rose 14.1% in March from February. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
Total North American surface transportation trade value in March was up 35.8% compared to March 2001, and up 100.5% compared to March 1996, a period of 10 years. Imports in March were up 114.6% compared to March 1996, while exports were up 84.8%.
U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade total $44 billion in March, up 11.4% compared to March 2005. The value of imports carried by truck was 8.6% higher in March 2006 than March 2005, while the value of exports carried by truck was 13.3% higher.
Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in March with $6.7 billion.
Surface transportation trade between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $24.2 billion in March, up 21.5% compared to March 2005. The value of imports carried by truck was 18.1% higher in March 2006 than March 2005, while the value of exports carried by truck was 21.9% higher.
Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in March with $7.7 billion.
