NAFTA trade up 14.9% in October

NAFTA trade up 14.9% in October    Surface transport-related trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was up 14.9 percent in October, compared to the same monthly period in 2009, reaching $70.6 billion, according to the U.S. Transportation Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics on Thursday.
   However, the value of trade for the month remained 2.9 percent below the October 2008 level, the agency said.
   BTS considers truck, rail and pipeline as part of its surface transportation calculations. In October, 86.1 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.
   BTS reported that U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $40.7 billion in October, up 12.2 percent compared to October 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 11.6 percent higher during the period compared to October 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 13.7 percent higher. Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $5.3 billion.
   U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade reached $29.9 billion in October, up 18.8 percent compared to October 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 17.2 percent higher in October 2010 than October 2009 while the value of exports carried by truck was 13.8 percent higher.
   BTS noted Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October with $10.9 billion. October was the third straight month in which Texas trade with Mexico by surface modes exceeded $10 billion.
   BTS makes its monthly trans-border freight statistics available on itsWeb site. Its November 2010 statistics will be released on Feb. 1.