Nafta Surface Trade Rose 9.6% in April, DOT Reports

urface trade among the U.S., Canada and Mexico rose 9.6% in April to $58.3 billion from the April 2004, the Department of Transportation reported.

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 7.4% over March 2004 to $21.5 billion, while exports increased 8.1% to $19.7 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in its monthly report.

Pipeline imports rose 24.4% to $3.4 billion while exports jumped 60% to $251 million, BTS said.