advertisement

---

In 2001, more than 10 percent of the 16 billion tons of freight moved on the nation's transportation system was international freight, a slight increase compared with 2000, according to International Trade and Freight Transportation Trends, a new report released April 3 by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).


Imports accounted for 71 percent compared with 65 percent in 1997.


Ocean carriers hauled 38 percent (by value) of the international freight, followed by air carriers, 28 percent; trucks, 21 percent; and railroads, 13 percent.


But the events of Sept. 11, 2001, affected all modes' international freight value, which dropped the most for air carriers (13 percent), followed by trucks (8 percent), ships (3 percent) and rail (2 percent) compared with 2000, BTS said.


Overall, more than 19 million import containers flowed into the United States from Canada and Mexico, including 6 million by ocean carriers, and 13 million by truck and rail.


Third in an international-trend series, BTS' multi-modal report examines recent trends in U.S. trade patterns with key partners; reviews changes in modal shares, commodity mix and transportation services; and analyzes emerging security challenges resulting from increased trade flows.


BTS released North American Trade and Travel Trends in 2001 and U.S. International Travel and Transportation Trends last year.