VALUE PER METRIC TON OF U.S. WATERBORNE IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

U.S. International Waterborne Commerce, Imports and Exports (monthly data, not seasonally adjusted)

Approximately 40 percent by value (75 percent in terms of tonnage) of cargo carried in U.S. foreign trade is carried on the water. U.S. waterborne exports are typically lower in value and tonnage than U.S. waterborne imports. Growth in containerized imports helps explain growth in value per metric ton of imports. Manufactured products constitute a high portion of container shipments.

NOTES: The current value is compared to the value from the same period in the previous year to account for seasonality.

Data reported prior to the 3rd quarter of 1998 were collected and reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce and may not be completely comparable to data reported by the Maritime Administration.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Waterborne Databank, and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Waterborne Exports and General Imports, various issues, available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/statistics/usfwts/index.html.