WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Trade using surface transportation between Canada, the US and Mexico was 17.4% higher in February than in February 2011, totalling $78.1 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation.
BTS reported that the February value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 12.6% from February 2008 – two months after the start of the recession – and 63.0% from February 2009 – in the middle of the recession.
The value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in February increased by 87.3% compared to February 2002. Imports in February were up 75.9% since February 2002, while exports were up 102.8%.
In February, 87.4% of US trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 8.7% moved by vessel, and 3.9% moved by air.
The value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico increased 3.4% in February from January.
US-Canada surface transportation trade in February increased compared to February 2011 reaching $45.4 billion, a 13.7% increase.
In February trade by state, Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada at $5.9 billion, an 18.2% increase from February 2011. Of the top 10 states by value, Illinois had the largest percentage increase over February 2011, at 30.1%. About half of the $5.1 billion in Illinois-Canada trade was imports of oil and gas via pipeline.
The top commodity category transported between the US and Canada by surface modes of transportation in February was vehicles (other than railway), valued at $8.7 billion.