May 2010 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 39.5 Percent from May 2009

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 39.5 percent higher in May 2010 than in May 2009, reaching $66.8 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The 39.5 percent increase was the largest percentage year over year increase in total U.S.-NAFTA trade by surface modes on record back to April 1994.  May was the third month in the last four with a record percentage year-over-year 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 in May 2010 remained 9.9 percent below the May 2008 level despite the 2009-2010 increase.  North American surface freight value rose 1.5 percent in May 2010 from April 2010.  Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.  

U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $40.2 billion in May, up 37.5 percent compared to May 2009. U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $26.6 billion in May, up 42.7 percent compared to May 2009. 

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. In May, 86.2 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.

See BTS Transborder Data Release for summary tables, state rankings and additional data. See North American Transborder Freight Data for historic data.