NAFTA trade increases in July

U.S. surface trade with Mexico, Canada continues 2014 rise.    U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico exceeded $100 billion for the fifth consecutive month in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The value of NAFTA trade increased $7.9 billion from July 2013 to $101.1 billion, an increase of more than 8.6 percent.
   All modes of transport recorded increases in freight.
   Pipeline traffic grew the largest amount (up 10.8 percent), followed by rail freight (up 10 percent) and truck (8.5 percent increase). The value of vessel traffic increased 5.6 percent and air increased 1.2 percent.
   In absolute terms, trucking grew the most at $4.7 billion, followed by rail at $1.4 billion. Truck freight grew $2.5 billion with Mexico and $2.2 billion with Canada.
   Trucking is the dominant mode for U.S.-NAFTA trade, carrying almost 60 percent of the freight by value. Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 14.8 percent of cross-border freight.