NAFTA Surface Trade Posts Record Value

The value of surface transportation trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico hit a record $80.8 billion in March, a year-over-year gain of 15.6 percent, the Transportation Department reported.

It was the highest monthly total since 1994, when the DOT began collecting data on trade with the United States’ partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement. The statistics are not adjusted for inflation.

By the Numbers: U.S. Intermodal Shipments.

The value of surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico during March was 8.8 percent higher than the previous record of April 2008 and was 14.2 percent above the level of March 2008.

Freight value in March rose 21.5 percent from February. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.

Trucks carry more than 85 percent of the value of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico. U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $48.7 billion, up 15.7 percent from March 2010. U.S.-Mexico volumes amounted to $32.1 billion, up 15.3 percent.

-- Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephbonney.