BTS: Surface transportation trade value among NAFTA partners climbed to 17-year high in 2011

The value of freight moved by surface transportation modes between the United States and Canada and Mexico in 2011 reached $904 billion, up 14.3 percent compared with 2010 and the highest annual total since the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in 1994, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).



Surface transportation trade includes freight movements by rail, truck, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones and other modes. In 2011, 85.5 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved by land. Railed import value climbed 14 percent year over year to $97.4 billion and railed export value jumped 19 percent to $54.4 billion.

The value of freight moved between the United States and Canada last year totaled $537 billion, up 14 percent compared with 2010. Railed import value rose 14.3 percent to $65.1 billion and railed export value increased 13.2 percent to $29.6 billion. The top commodity category transported between the nations was vehicles and vehicle parts (other than railway vehicles and parts), which totaled $96.1 billion in trade.

The value of freight moved between the United States and Mexico totaled $367.1 billion, up 14.6 percent versus 2010. Railed import value increased 13.4 percent to $32.3 billion and railed export value shot up 26.6 percent to $24.9 billion. The top commodity transported between the nations was electrical machinery at $80.5 billion in trade.

To access more BTS surface transportation trade data for 2011, follow this link.