(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on May 30.)
The value of trade moved via surface transportation in March between the United States and Canada and Mexico reached $70.8 billion, up 2 percent from February’s level and 1.5 percent from March 2007’s total, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The value of railed imports increased 7.2 percent from $7.5 billion in February to $8 billion in March, while railed exports totaling $4.3 billion inched up 0.6 percent month over month and rose 6.5 percent year over year.
The value of trucked imports totaling $23.8 billion fell 0.7 percent from February’s level and 8 percent from March 2007’s total. Trucked exports valued at $23.3 billion rose 3.7 percent and 0.7 percent on a month-over-month and year-over-year basis, respectively.
U.S.-Canada trade in March totaled $47.2 billion, representing a 4.9 percent increase compared with February’s total and 4.8 percent rise from March 2007’s total. Railed imports jumped 9.1 percent and exports rose 6.9 percent vs. February’s levels.
U.S.-Mexico trade totaled $23.6 billion, down 3.4 percent month over month. Railed imports increased 2.4 percent, but exports declined 7.9 percent from February’s levels.