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Table 21
Weight of U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transportation: 2001

(Millions of short tons)

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  Exportsa Modal % Imports Modal % Total tradea Total modal %
Total 480,505 100.0 1,162,399 100.0 1,642,904 100.0
Water 360,830 75.1 915,079 78.7 1,275,909 77.7
Air 2,704 0.6 3,464 0.3 6,169 0.4
Truck 88,804 18.5 91,639 7.9 180,443 11.0
Rail 22,271 4.6 75,033 6.5 97,304 5.9
Pipeline 3,904 0.8 75,399 6.5 79,303 4.8
Other, unknown, & miscellaneous 1,991 0.4 1,784 0.2 3,775 0.2

a BTS estimated the export weight for truck, rail, pipeline, and other and unknown based on value-to-weight ratios from the import data. This was necessary, because export weights for surface modes are not currently reported. Weight for water and air exports and imports are from U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau.

Notes:
Numbers may not sum to total due to rounding.

Water-Excludes intransit data (merchandise shipped from one foreign country to another via a U.S. water port).

Imports-Excludes imports valued at less than $1,250. Import value is based on U.S. general imports, customs value basis.

Exports-Excludes exports valued at less than $2,500. Export value is FAS (free alongside ship) and represents the value of exports at the port of export, including the transaction price and inland freight, insurance, and other charges.

Sources: Compiled by USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), May 2002. Water and air data-U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Exports of Merchandise, CD-ROM and U.S. Imports of Merchandise, CD-ROM, December 2001. Total, truck, rail, pipeline, other and unknown data-USDOT, BTS, Transborder Surface Freight Data 2002; and special calculation, May 2002.