August 2010 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 25.3 Percent from August 2009

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 25.3 percent higher in August 2010 than in August 2009, reaching $68.0 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in August 2010 remained 5.9 percent below the August 2008 level despite the 2009-2010 increase.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 10.9 percent in August 2010 from July 2010.  Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors. 

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $39.9 billion in August, up 21.1 percent compared to August 2009. U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $28.1 billion in August, up 31.7 percent compared to August 2009.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. In August, 86.3 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.