[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
Nafta Trade Grew Again in 2012
North American merchandise trade continued to grow in 2012, with trucks moving a majority of it, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics said Dec. 5.
U.S. merchandise trade with Canada and Mexico combined hit $1.11 trillion last year across all modes of transportation, up from $1.06 trillion in 2011, said BTS, a division of the Department of Transportation. The trucking segment rose to $664.7 billion from $625.9 billion in 2011.
Trade did decrease during the recession, from 2007 to 2009, but it has grown in each of the three years since then, BTS said.
U.S.-Canada truck-based trade increased to $341.49 billion from $330.7 billion in 2011. U.S.-Mexico truck-based trade increased to $323.25 billion from $295.2 billion in 2011.
The BTS report also said 10.7 million trucks entered the United States in 2012, with 5.6 million coming from Canada and 5.1 million from Mexico.