International

As the world’s largest trading nation, the United States (U.S.) relies heavily on a vast transportation network to expedite the flow of goods and people to and from its trading partners.  The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) compiles, disseminates, validates, and analyzes a wide variety of data captured from various sources detailing trade trends; movement of goods by land, sea, and air; and personal travel.

BTS’ purpose for studying international trade in the context of the U.S. and global transportation network is to assist in making knowledge-based decisions to improve the flow of goods and people.  BTS works to ensure high quality international data and analysis are available to all levels of government, the private sector, and individuals studying trade and transportation.  The work produced by BTS and the entities that rely on its information help to make the U.S. transportation network more efficient and competitive.

Programs

North American Transborder Freight Data
The North American Transborder Freight Database, available since April 1993, contains freight flow data by commodity type and by mode of transportation (rail, truck, pipeline, air, vessel, and other) for U.S. exports to and imports from Canada and Mexico. The database includes two sets of tables; one is commodity based while the other provides geographic detail. The purpose of the database is to provide transportation information on North American trade flows. This type of information is being used to monitor freight flows and changes to these since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by the United States, Canada and Mexico in December 1992 and its entry into force on January 1, 1994. The database is also being used for trade corridor studies, transportation infrastructure planning, marketing and logistics plans and other purposes. It allows users to analyze movement of merchandise by all land modes, waterborne vessels, and by air carriers.

Border Crossing/Entry Data
BTS provides monthly incoming border crossing/entry data for vehicles, containers, passengers, and pedestrians.  The data represents activity at the port level on the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican borders.

North American Transportation Statistics Interchange
Through the Interchange, United States, Canada and Mexico have developed the North American Transporation Statisitics Database that supplies users with relevant, timely and comparable transportation data and information for North America. The 13 year-old Interchange is a forum for the exchange of information and the initiation of of joint projects of the transportation and statistical federal agencies in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Publications

• Top 50 U.S. Freight Gateways by Value: 2005
• North American Freight Transportation: U.S. Trade with Canada and Mexico - June 2006
• U.S.-North American Trade and Freight Transportation Highlights
• America's Freight Transportation Gateways
• G-7 Transportation Highlights
• Issue Brief, Number 5 - U.S. International Trade in Transportation-Related Goods
• North American Trade and Travel Trends
• North American Transportation
• North American Transportation Atlas Data (NORTAD) CD (DOS and Unix)
• North American Transportation Highlights
• North American Transportation In Figures
• U.S. International Trade and Freight Transportation Trends
• U.S. International Travel and Transportation Trends
• U.S. International Travel and Transportation Trends: 2006 Update

Guide to Foreign Trade Data

For a complete explanation of the international trade statistics, refer to http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/reference/index.htmlthe Guide to Foreign Trade Statistics available from the Government Printing Office and on the Census Bureau's web site.

Additional Data for U.S. International Trade with All Countries

The International Trade Administration (ITA) maintains a list of international trade data sources as well as sources for other macroeconomic data on their website. From the ITA main page (http://www.trade.gov/).