Figure 1: Surface Trade between U.S. and NAFTA: 1995 – 2012

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, based on Transborder Freight Data, available at https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/, as of February 28, 2013.

NOTES: Numbers might not add to totals due to rounding.

Trade using surface transportation modes between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico increased by 6.2 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, valued at $960 billion in 2012, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The $960 billion in U.S.-NAFTA surface mode trade was the highest annual amount since NAFTA went into effect in 1994 (Table 1).

BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that U.S. imports by surface mode increased 5.6 percent in 2012 from 2011, while surface-based exports increased 6.9 percent during the same period (Table 2).

During the recession period of December 2007 to June 2009, U.S. trade carried by surface modes to and from Mexico declined less than trade with Canada and also rebounded faster.  The value of U.S.-Mexico surface trade declined 14.4 percent in 2009 from 2008, and then increased by 61.0 percent in the next three years to reach a level in 2012 that was 37.8 percent higher than in 2008.  The value of U.S.-Canada surface trade declined 28.1 percent in 2009 from 2008, and then increased by 44.2 percent in the next three years to reach a level in 2012 that was only 3.6 higher than in 2008.  As a result, U.S.-Mexico trade comprised 42.1 percent of North American surface freight trade in 2012, compared to 35.3 percent in 2008.

Figure 2: North American Surface Freight by Mode, 2012

Mode	Total Trade Value
All Modes	1,109,987,545,709
All Surface Modes	960,134,550,217
Truck	664,739,193,480
Rail	167,504,167,676
Pipeline	77,438,979,411
Air	43,999,088,005
Vessel	105,853,907,487
Other and Unknown Modes	50,452,209,650

Surface modes shown by dotted segments
(billions of current dollars)

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

In 2012, 86.5 percent of U.S. merchandise trade by value with Canada and Mexico entered or exited the country by surface mode of transportation (Figure 2).  Total North American surface transportation trade is up by 50.8 percent since 2009, when U.S.-NAFTA trade fell to a recent low during the recession (Table 3).  In 2009, U.S.-NAFTA trade decreased by 23.3 percent from the previous year (Table 1).  See North American Transborder Freight Data  for historic data.

  U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $556.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 2011 (Table 4).  The value of goods transported by rail had the largest year-to-year increase. Imports carried by rail were 7.4 percent higher in 2012 than 2011 while the value of exports carried by rail was 11.8 percent higher.  The value of pipeline imports and exports decreased, dropping 4.3 and 2.3 percent respectively in 2012 compared to 2011. 

Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in 2012 with $73.3 billion (Table 5).   Vehicles and vehicle parts accounted for $45.2 billion, 61.7 percent of total Michigan-Canada surface trade.  Of the top 10 states for U.S.-Canada surface trade in 2012, California had the highest percentage change over 2011, a 16.5 percent increase.  The increase in California-Canada surface trade was led by a 41.5 percent increase in vehicles and vehicle parts, the largest commodity by value in California-Canada surface trade.

The top commodity category overall transported between the U.S. and Canada by surface modes of transportation in 2012 was vehicles and vehicle parts (other than railway vehicles and parts) with $107.4 billion in trade (Table 8).  U.S.-Canada trade of this commodity group was split roughly even between exports and imports, reflecting the interdependency of automotive plants on both sides of the border.

U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Mexico

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $403.9 billion in 2012, an increase of 10.0 percent compared to 2011 (Table 6). Similar to the trend on the northern border, the value of goods transported by rail had the highest year to your increase. Imports carried by rail were 14.3 percent higher in 2012 than 2011, while the value of exports carried by rail was 11.1 percent higher. However, the value of U.S.-Mexico pipeline trade was down in 2012 compared to 2011, imports decreased by 23.8 percent and exports decreased by 2.1 percent.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in 2012 with $145.8 billion (Table 7).   This is the fourth time on record that Texas has had more than $100 billion in trade with Mexico by surface modes of transportation in a calendar year.  Five commodities more than doubled in the value of Texas-Mexico trade in 2012 over 2011; the most notable was pearls and precious stones which increased by more than $2 billion from the previous year.  Five of the top 10 states with U.S.-Mexico surface trade in 2012 saw double digit percent increases from 2011.

The top commodity transported between the U.S. and Mexico by surface modes of transportation was electrical machinery with $85.7 billion moved in 2012 (Table 9).  Measuring and testing equipment was the fifth highest commodity by value on the U.S.-Mexico Border, compared with its ranking as the 12th highest on the U.S.-Canada Border.   

TransBorder Data

The TransBorder Freight Dataset is a special extract of the official U.S. foreign trade statistics.  The data are obtained by BTS from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division.  TransBorder numbers include data received by BTS as of Feb. 8. 

This news release and summary tables can be found at http://www.bts.dot.gov/.  More information on Transborder freight data is posted on the BTS website at https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/.

Table 1. Annual Value of U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada and Mexico and Percent Change from Previous Year

(millions of current dollars)

Year	Amount	Percent Change from Previous Year
1995	370,265	NA
1996	410,382	10.8
1997	425,977	3.8
1998	451,736	6.0
1999	501,250	11.0
2000	575,713	14.9
2001	547,312	-4.9
2002	540,795	-1.2
2003	562,776	4.1
2004	633,563	12.6
2005	697,987	10.2
2006	760,127	8.9
2007	797,303	4.9
2008	829,875	4.1
2009	636,695	-23.3
2010	791,329	24.3
2011	904,133	14.3
2012	960,135	6.2

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTES: Numbers may not add to totals due

Table 2. U.S. Merchandise Trade with Canada and Mexico by Surface Modes of Transportation

(millions of current dollars)

Mode		2010	2011	2012	Percent Change 2010 - 2011	Percent Change 2011 - 2012
All Surface Modes	Imports	427,592	486,662	513,694	13.8	5.6
	Exports	363,738	417,471	446,440	14.8	6.9
	Total	791,329	904,133	960,135	14.3	6.2
Truck	Imports	272,186	303,012	321,351	11.3	6.1
	Exports	284,698	322,846	343,388	13.4	6.4
Rail	Imports	85,480	97,422	106,825	14.0	9.7
	Exports	45,748	54,431	60,679	19.0	11.5
Pipeline	Imports	57,744	71,024	67,947	23.0	-4.3
	Exports	5,189	9,703	9,492	87.0	-2.2

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Percent change based on numbers prior to rounding. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

NOTE: 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, other and unknown modes of transportation.  For additional detail refer to the Transborder web page: https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

Table 3. Prior Year Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Compared with 2012

2012 Compared to	Percent Change to 2012
	Imports	Exports	Total Surface Trade
2011	5.6	6.9	6.2
2010	20.1	22.7	21.3
2009	50.4	51.3	50.8
2008	10.6	22.2	15.7
2007	13.5	29.5	20.4
2006	18.3	36.9	26.3
2005	28.2	50.2	37.6
2004	41.0	65.9	51.5
2003	59.4	85.6	70.6
2002	66.1	92.8	77.5

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

Table 4. U.S. Merchandise Trade with Canada by Surface Modes of Transportation

(millions of current dollars)

Mode		2010	2011	2012	Percent Change 2010 - 2011	Percent Change 2011 - 2012
All Surface Modes	Imports	246,252	282,582	290,096	14.8	2.7
	Exports	224,809	254,450	266,120	13.2	4.6
	Total	471,061	537,031	556,216	14.0	3.6
Truck	Imports	123,238	135,528	138,948	10.0	2.5
	Exports	173,588	195,126	202,542	12.4	3.8
Rail	Imports	56,996	65,118	69,914	14.3	7.4
	Exports	26,116	29,569	33,068	13.2	11.8
Pipeline	Imports	57,562	70,743	67,733	22.9	-4.3
	Exports	3,151	6,211	6,071	97.1	-2.3

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Percent change based on numbers prior to rounding. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

NOTE: 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, other and unknown modes of transportation.  For additional detail refer to the Transborder web page: https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

Table 5. Top 10 States Trading with Canada by Surface Modes of Transportation

Ranked by 2012 Value

(millions of current dollars)

State	2011		2012		Percent Change 2011 -2012
	Value	Rank	Value	Rank
Michigan	68,412	1	73,258	1	7.1
Illinois	53,845	2	57,326	2	6.5
California	31,331	4	36,506	3	16.5
Ohio	33,123	3	34,121	4	3.0
Texas	30,608	5	32,370	5	5.8
New York	30,076	6	27,950	6	-7.1
Pennsylvania	21,097	7	20,844	7	-1.2
Washington	20,250	8	19,548	8	-3.5
Indiana	17,714	10	18,951	9	7.0
Minnesota	18,193	9	18,513	10	1.8

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Percent change based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 6. U.S. Merchandise Trade with Mexico by Surface Modes of Transportation

(millions of current dollars)

Mode		2010	2011	2012	Percent Change 2010 - 2011	Percent Change 2011 - 2012
All Surface Modes	Imports	181,339	204,080	223,599	12.5	9.6
	Exports	138,929	163,021	180,320	17.3	10.6
	Total	320,268	367,101	403,919	14.6	10.0
Truck	Imports	148,948	167,483	182,403	12.4	8.9
	Exports	111,110	127,720	140,846	15.0	10.3
Rail	Imports	28,484	32,303	36,912	13.4	14.3
	Exports	19,632	24,862	27,611	26.6	11.1
Pipeline	Imports	182	281	214	54.9	-23.8
	Exports	2,038	3,492	3,421	71.3	-2.1

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Percent change based on numbers prior to rounding. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

NOTE: 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, other and unknown modes of transportation.  For additional detail refer to the Transborder web page: https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

Table 7. Top 10 States Trading with Mexico by Surface Modes of Transportation

Ranked by 2012 Value

(millions of current dollars)

State	2011		2012		Percent Change 2011 - 2012
	Value	Rank	Value	Rank
Texas	128,981	1	145,850	1	13.1
California	54,496	2	56,994	2	4.6
Michigan	41,376	3	48,110	3	16.3
Illinois	12,588	4	13,666	4	8.6
Arizona	11,725	5	12,848	5	9.6
Ohio	9,687	6	10,739	6	10.9
Tennessee	7,326	7	8,741	7	19.3
Indiana	6,633	8	7,250	8	9.3
North Carolina	6,009	9	6,727	9	12.0
Georgia	5,265	10	5,406	10	2.7

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Percent change based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 8. Top Five Commodities Transported between the U.S. and Canada by Surface Modes of Transportation, 2012

(millions of current dollars)

Commodities	Exports	Imports	Total
Vehicles Other than Railway	49,853	57,548	107,401
Mineral Fuels; Oils and Waxes	12,762	83,499	96,261
Computer-Related Machinery and Parts	44,437	18,748	63,185
Electrical Machinery; Equipment and Parts	22,796	6,558	29,354
Plastics	12,763	10,157	22,920

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Table 9. Top Five Commodities Transported between the U.S. and Mexico by Surface Modes of Transportation, 2012

(millions of current dollars)

Commodities	Exports	Imports	Total
Electrical Machinery; Equipment and Parts	31,542	54,195	85,737
Computer-Related Machinery and Parts	34,476	41,629	76,105
Vehicles Other than Railway	20,190	50,552	70,742
Plastics	13,776	3,656	17,432
Measuring and Testing Equipment	4,750	9,987	14,737

SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transborder Freight Data, https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/TransBorder-Freight-Data/myhq-rm6q/

NOTE: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.