Value of cargo moved by rail between NAFTA partners set record in October

The value of trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners in October reached $103.1 billion, exceeding $100 billion for the first time, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

In addition, the total value of cargo moved by surface transportation modes between the United States and Canada and Mexico — primarily by truck, rail and pipeline — climbed to an all-time-high $85.4 billion in October, BTS officials said in a press release.

The value of truck- and rail-moved cargo also set records at $61.4 billion and $15.9 billion, respectively. The previous highs in each category were $81.7 billion for total surface transportation trade value set in March 2013, $60 billion for truck-moved cargo value set in October 2012 and $15.3 billion for rail-moved cargo value set in May 2013, BTS officials said.

The value of U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade in October rose 6.2 percent year over year to $56.7 billion. Railed imports increased 3.9 percent in value to $6.4 billion and railed exports rose 5.9 percent in value to $3 billion. Cargo moved by rail accounted for 16.5 percent of the total value in October compared with 53.5 percent for trucks, 13.7 percent for pipelines, 6 percent for vessels and 4.5 percent for air carriers.

The value of U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade in October rose 2.5 percent year over year to $46.4 billion. Railed imports climbed 15.5 percent percent in value to $3.9 billion and railed exports increased 4.9 percent in value to $2.6 billion.

"U.S.-Mexico trade by rail had the largest percentage increase of any mode from October 2012 to October 2013, growing 10.9 percent," BTS officials said.

Cargo moved by rail accounted for 14.1 percent of the total value in October compared with 66.9 percent for trucks, 12.2 percent for vessels, 3 percent for air carriers and 0.7 percent for pipelines.