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The United States continued to increase surface transportation trade with Mexico and Canada in October, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners totaled $56.9 billion, an 8.6 percent increase compared with October 2003 and 3.6 percent rise compared with September 2004.

The October total also represents a 19.4 percent increase compared with October 2001 and 81.8 percent rise compared with October 1994, when NAFTA took effect. October exports and imports increased 60.1 percent and 102.3 percent, respectively, compared with October 1994 figures.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaling $36.5 billion rose 10.6 percent compared with October 2003. The value of imports moving by rail totaled $5.1 billion, a 0.4 percent and 4.1 percent increase compared with September 2004 and October 2003, respectively. Rail-moved exports totaling $1.4 billion dropped 0.6 percent compared with the previous month, but increased 3.4 percent compared with October 2003.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaling $20.4 billion rose 5.3 percent compared with October 2003. The value of imports moving by rail totaled $1.9 billion, a 6 percent increase compared with September 2004 and 11.5 percent rise compared with October 2003. Rail-moved exports totaling $1.4 billion increased 12.6 percent and 23 percent compared with September 2004 and October 2003, respectively.

Surface transportation comprises freight movements by rail, truck, pipeline and other modes. About 90 percent of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico moves by surface transportation modes.