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Surface transportation trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico totaled $59 billion in December, a 1 percent decrease compared with December 2005. The decrease marks the first time since August 2003 that surface transportation trade has declined compared with the same month of the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The culprit: U.S.-Canada trade.

December U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $38.2 billion, a 2.7 percent decrease and 5.8 percent decrease compared with December 2005 and November 2006, respectively. The value of railed imports totaled $5.3 billion, down 4.4 percent compared with December 2005 but up 0.5 percent compared with November 2006. Railed exports totaled $1.9 billion, up 19 percent compared with December 2005 but down 0.7 percent compared with November.

December U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $20.9 billion, up 5.0 percent compared with December 2005, but down 14 percent compared with November. The value of railed imports totaled $2.4 billion, up 22.2 percent compared with the previous December and flat with November 2006. Railed exports totaled $1.5 billion, up 2 percent compared with December 2005, but down 16.4 percent compared with November.

The value of total imported merchandise moved by rail totaled $7.7 billion, a 2.4 percent increase compared with December 2005 and 0.4 percent increase compared with November 2006. The value of total railed exports totaled $3.4 billion, up 11 percent compared with December 2005 but down 8.2 percent compared with November 2006.