WASHINGTON—Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was down 33.1 percent in April 2009 compared to April 2008, falling to $49.7 billion, according to data released by the United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
This output, according to the BTS, represents the fourth consecutive month with a yearly decline greater than 27 percent.
Surface transportation, according to the BTS, is comprised mainly of freight movements by truck, trail, and pipeline, and nearly 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves by land.
The BTS reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in March was down 6.5 percent in April 2009 compared to April 2004 and up 17.4 percent compared to April 1999. Imports in April were up 19.5 percent compared to April 1999, while exports were up 24.9 percent, according to the BTS.
The BTS said the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Mexico dropped 23.4 percent year over year in April at $19.5 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 22.0 percent lower than in April 2009 compared to April 2008, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was down 18.0 percent.
And Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in January at $6.6 billion.
And the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada was down 38.2 percent year-over-year in April at $30.2 billion. Imports carried by truck were valued 32.8 percent lower than in April 2009 compared to April 2008, said the BTS, and the value of exports carried by truck was down 31.2 percent. Michigan paced all states in surface trade with Canada in April at $3.3 billion.
(Source: Transportation News)
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