Value of cargo moving between NAFTA partners jumped in January, BTS says

The value of cargo moved by surface transportation modes between the United States and Canada and Mexico in January reached $67.7 billion, up 19.5 percent compared with January 2010's value, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Trade value also climbed 1.8 percent from December’s level.

By value, 85.1 percent of U.S. trade was transported on land in January, primarily by truck, rail and pipeline. The total value of railed imports between the NAFTA nations in January rose 12.9 percent to $7.5 billion and total value of railed exports jumped 15 percent to $3.6 billion on a year-over-year basis.

The value of freight moved between the United States and Canada totaled $40.3 billion, up 17.8 percent vs. January 2010’s level. Railed imports were valued at $5.1 billion, up 14 percent, and railed exports were valued at $1.9 billion, up 7.9 percent, according to BTS data.

The value of freight moved between the United States and Mexico via surface transportation modes in January totaled $27.5 billion, up 22.1 percent year over year. Railed import value increased 10.4 percent to $2.3 billion and railed export value climbed 24.3 percent to $1.7 billion.

For more BTS surface transportation trade data from January, follow this link.