May Nafta Surface Trade Increases

urface trade among the U.S., Canada and Mexico rose 8.9% in May to $57.9 billion from May 2004, the Department of Transportation reported Thursday.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade by value with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico moves by land.

U.S. imports by truck rose 9.8% over May 2004 to $21.7 billion, while exports increased 9% to $19.9 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in its monthly report.

Pipeline imports rose 12.3% to $2.9 billion while exports jumped 124.4% to $347 million, BTS said.