May 2010 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 39.5 Percent from May 2009
(State Rankings in Tables 5 and 7)
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Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 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 (Table 1). 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 (Table 3). North American surface freight value rose 1.5 percent in May 2010 from April 2010 (Table 2). Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
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.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in May was up 15.4 percent compared to May 2005, and up 36.2 percent compared to May 2000, a period of 10 years (Table 3). Imports in May were up 31.8 percent compared to May 2000, while exports were up 41.8 percent.
U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada
U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $40.2 billion in May, up 37.5 percent compared to May 2009 (Table 4). The value of imports carried by truck was 32.0 percent higher in May 2010 compared to May 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 34.5 percent higher during this period.
Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in May with $5.5 billion (Table 5).
U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Mexico
U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $26.6 billion in May, up 42.7 percent compared to May 2009 (Table 6). The value of imports carried by truck was 36.1 percent higher in May 2010 than May 2009 while the value of exports carried by truck was 43.2 percent higher.
Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in May with $9.4 billion (Table 7).
The TransBorder Freight Data are a unique subset of official U.S. foreign trade statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. New data are tabulated monthly and historical data are not adjusted for inflation. May TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of July 12.
The news release and summary tables can be found at www.bts.gov. More information on TransBorder Freight Data and data from previous months are posted on the BTS website at http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/. BTS will release June TransBorder numbers on Aug. 31.
Table 1. Value of Monthly U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada and Mexico
(millions of dollars)
| Month | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Percent Change 2008-2009 | Percent Change 2009-2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65,160 | 47,459 | 56,697 | -27.2 | 19.5 |
| February | 69,406 | 47,938 | 59,492 | -30.9 | 24.1 |
| March | 70,787 | 51,055 | 69,943 | -27.9 | 37.0 |
| April | 74,317 | 49,729 | 65,831 | -33.1 | 32.4 |
| May | 74,128 | 47,881 | 66,805 | -35.4 | 39.5 |
| June | 74,139 | 50,753 | -31.5 | ||
| July | 71,628 | 51,545 | -28.0 | ||
| August | 72,254 | 54,254 | -24.9 | ||
| September | 71,801 | 57,294 | -20.2 | ||
| October | 72,683 | 61,400 | -15.5 | ||
| November | 60,661 | 58,922 | -2.9 | ||
| December | 52,910 | 58,465 | 10.5 | ||
| Year-to-date | 353,798 | 244,063 | 318,767 | -31.0 | 30.6 |
| Annual | 829,875 | 636,695 | -23.3 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Table 2. U.S. Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico by Mode of Transportation
(millions of dollars)
| Mode | May 2009 | April 2010 | May 2010 | Percent Change April-May 2010 | Percent Change May 2009 - 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Surface Modes | Imports | 25,595 | 35,785 | 36,160 | 1.0 | 41.3 |
| Exports | 22,286 | 30,045 | 30,646 | 2.0 | 37.5 | |
| Total | 47,881 | 65,831 | 66,805 | 1.5 | 39.5 | |
| Truck | Imports | 17,233 | 22,776 | 23,121 | 1.5 | 34.2 |
| Exports | 17,447 | 23,404 | 24,021 | 2.6 | 37.7 | |
| Rail | Imports | 4,448 | 7,222 | 7,430 | 2.9 | 67.1 |
| Exports | 2,750 | 4,020 | 4,045 | 0.6 | 47.1 | |
| Pipeline | Imports | 2,904 | 4,922 | 4,959 | 0.8 | 70.8 |
| Exports | 304 | 380 | 308 | -19.0 | 1.3 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/
Notes: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. The value of trade for all surface modes is not equal to the sum of truck, rail and pipeline modes, it also includes shipments made by mail, foreign trade zones, and other transportation. For additional detail refer to the "Data Fields" Section of the TransBorder web page: http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_DataFields.html
Table 3. May 2010 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Compared with May of Prior Years
| Compared to May in... | Percent Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Imports | Exports | Total Surface Trade | |
| 2009 | 41.3 | 37.5 | 39.5 |
| 2008 | -12.6 | -6.4 | -9.9 |
| 2007 | -7.1 | 0.5 | -3.8 |
| 2006 | -2.9 | 6.6 | 1.2 |
| 2005 | 11.3 | 20.8 | 15.4 |
| 2004 | 19.7 | 33.5 | 25.7 |
| 2003 | 30.4 | 45.4 | 36.9 |
| 2002 | 31.2 | 46.2 | 37.7 |
| 2001 | 27.4 | 44.5 | 34.7 |
| 2000 | 31.8 | 41.8 | 36.2 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/
Table 4. U.S. Merchandise Trade with Canada by Surface Modes of Transportation
(millions of dollars)
| Mode | May 2009 | April 2010 | May 2010 | Percent Change April-May 2010 | Percent Change May 2009 - 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Surface Modes | Imports | 14,799 | 20,908 | 20,936 | 0.1 | 41.5 |
| Exports | 14,435 | 19,018 | 19,269 | 1.3 | 33.5 | |
| Total | 29,234 | 39,926 | 40,204 | 0.7 | 37.5 | |
| Truck | Imports | 8,022 | 10,497 | 10,586 | 0.8 | 32.0 |
| Exports | 11,091 | 14,654 | 14,918 | 1.8 | 34.5 | |
| Rail | Imports | 3,098 | 4,892 | 5,025 | 2.7 | 62.2 |
| Exports | 1,661 | 2,319 | 2,333 | 0.6 | 40.5 | |
| Pipeline | Imports | 2,892 | 4,906 | 4,946 | 0.8 | 71.0 |
| Exports | 259 | 293 | 248 | -15.3 | -4.0 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/
Notes: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. The value of trade for all surface modes is not equal to the sum of truck, rail and pipeline modes, it also includes shipments made by mail, foreign trade zones, and other transportation. For additional detail refer to the "Data Fields" Section of the TransBorder web page: http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_DataFields.html
Table 5. Top 10 States Trading with Canada by Surface Modes of Transportation
Ranked by May 2010 Surface Trade Value
(millions of dollars)
| Rank | State | May 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 5,465 |
| 2 | Illinois | 3,550 |
| 3 | California | 2,773 |
| 4 | Ohio | 2,696 |
| 5 | New York | 2,283 |
| 6 | Texas | 2,228 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 1,622 |
| 8 | Indiana | 1,424 |
| 9 | Washington | 1,421 |
| 10 | Minnesota | 1,212 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/
Table 6. U.S. Merchandise Trade with Mexico by Surface Modes of Transportation
(millions of dollars)
| Mode | May 2009 | April 2010 | May 2010 | Percent Change April-May 2010 | Percent Change May 2009 - 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Surface Modes | Imports | 10,796 | 14,878 | 15,224 | 2.3 | 41.0 |
| Exports | 7,851 | 11,027 | 11,377 | 3.2 | 44.9 | |
| Total | 18,647 | 25,905 | 26,601 | 2.7 | 42.7 | |
| Truck | Imports | 9,211 | 12,279 | 12,535 | 2.1 | 36.1 |
| Exports | 6,356 | 8,750 | 9,103 | 4.0 | 43.2 | |
| Rail | Imports | 1,350 | 2,330 | 2,405 | 3.2 | 78.2 |
| Exports | 1,098 | 1,700 | 1,711 | 0.7 | 57.2 | |
| Pipeline | Imports | 12 | 16 | 13 | -19.3 | 10.1 |
| Exports | 45 | 87 | 59 | -31.6 | 31.2 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/
Notes: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. The value of trade for all surface modes is not equal to the sum of truck, rail and pipeline modes, it also includes shipments made by mail, foreign trade zones, and other transportation. For additional detail refer to the "Data Fields" Section of the TransBorder web page: http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_DataFields.html
Table 7. Top 10 States Trading with Mexico by Surface Modes of Transportation
Ranked by May 2010 Surface Trade Value
(millions of dollars)
| Rank | State | May 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 9,391 |
| 2 | California | 4,001 |
| 3 | Michigan | 2,879 |
| 4 | Arizona | 989 |
| 5 | Illinois | 887 |
| 6 | Ohio | 708 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 509 |
| 8 | Indiana | 446 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 409 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 393 |
Source: BTS TransBorder Freight Data, http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/