NAFTA Surface Trade Rises 7.9% in October

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico was 7.9% higher in October than the same month last year, the Department of Transportation reported Friday.

Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners rose to $85.3 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.

Month-to-month trade, which is affected by seasonal factors, jumped 9.8% from September, BTS said.

U.S.-Mexico trade rose 13.1% to $36.9 billion, while U.S.-Canada trade increased 4.3% to $48.4 billion.

Truck imports to the United States from the two countries rose 7.1% year-over-year to $28.6 billion, while exports rose 9% to $30.9 billion.

Rail imports increased 7.9% to $9.5 billion, while exports gained 6.8% to $5.4 billion. Pipeline imports rose 4.9% to $5.6 billion, while exports jumped 22.8% to $909 million.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.