Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, rose 6.2 percent in November 2012 compared to November 2011, totaling $81.5 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Adjusted for inflation and exchange rates and presented in January 2004 dollars, the November 2012 total was $59.5 billion, up 7.6 percent from November 2011.  

BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that in November 2012, $56.2 billion of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico moved by truck, $14.9 billion moved by rail, and $5.9 billion moved by pipeline.   Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, other modes of transport, and goods moving into Foreign Trade Zones. Surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico accounted for 21 percent of total U.S. foreign trade in November 2012. 

U.S.-Canada surface trade was $46.7 billion in current dollars in November 2012, while U.S.-Mexico surface trade was $34.8 billion. For trade statistics by mode, see Table 3 for Canada and Table 5 for Mexico. 

In November, Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada, at $6.6 billion in current dollars (Table 4). The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada by surface modes of transportation in November was vehicles and parts, valued at $9.6 billion in current dollars (Table 7).  

Texas continued to lead all states in surface trade with Mexico at $12.4 billion in current dollars (Table 6). The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico by surface modes of transportation in November was electrical machinery with $7.9 billion in trade in current dollars (Table 8). 

See BTS Transborder Data Release for summary tables, state rankings and additional data. See North American Transborder Freight Data for historical data.