WASHINGTON, D.C. — Surface trade between Canada, the US and Mexico was down a whopping 28% in July, compared to the same month last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation. NAFTA surface trade dropped for the seventh consecutive month to $51.5 billion, with a year-to-year decline of greater than 27%.

BTS reported that the value of US surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 1.6% in July 2009 from June 2009.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in July was up 7.2% compared to July 2004, and up 38.1% compared to July 1999, a period of 10 years. Imports in July were up 30.1 percent compared to July 1999, while exports were up 48.6%.

US-Canada surface transportation trade totalled $31.0 billion in July, down 33.8% compared to July 2008.  The value of imports carried by truck was 29.0% lower in July 2009 compared to July 2008, while the value of exports carried by truck was 24.3% lower during this period.

Interestingly, Illinois knocked Michigan out of its usual top spot among US states to lead trade with Canada in July with $3.1 billion. Michigan came in second with $2.7 billion in surface trade value.