January 31, 2006 10:00 AM, EST

Nafta Surface Trade Rose 12% in November

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urface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 12% in November from a year earlier to $62.9 billion, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Total North American surface transportation trade fell 1.7% in November from October, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in its monthly report.

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.

November U.S. imports by truck rose 11.2% over a year earlier to $23.1 billion, while truck exports increased 9.6% to $20.9 billion.

Imports by rail rose 11.4% to $7.4 billion year-over-year, while exports gained 7.7% to $3.1 billion.

Pipeline imports jumped 37.2% to $4.8 billion while exports soared 104.7% to $212 million, DOT said.