Surface transportation cargo value climbed between U.S., NAFTA partners in November

The value of trade moved by surface transportation modes between the United States and Canada and Mexico in November rose 6.2 percent to $81.5 billion compared with November 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

In November, $56.2 billion worth of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico moved by truck, $14.9 billion by rail and $5.9 billion by pipeline. Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail and other modes, as well as goods moving into Foreign Trade Zones. Surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico accounted for 21 percent of total U.S. foreign trade in November.

The value of U.S.-Canada surface trade reached $46.7 billion versus $44.3 billion in November 2011. Trucking accounted for $28.8 billion of the value, followed by rail at $8.8 billion and pipeline at $5.7 billion.

The value of U.S.-Mexico surface trade totaled $34.8 billion versus $32.4 billion in November 2011. Trucking accounted for $27.4 billion of the value, followed by rail at $6 billion and pipeline at $240 million.