Surface trade with Canada and Mexico rose for the third consecutive month in February, surging a record 24.1 percent compared with the previous February, one of the slowest months of the recession.

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement totaled $59.5 billion in value, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The 24.1 percent increase is the largest year-over-year rise on record, but freight value still remained 14.3 percent less than the value two years ago in February 2008, BTS said.

NAFTA surface trade increased 4.9 percent compared with January 2010. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. In February, 87.6 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $36.3 billion in February, up 21.7 percent compared to February 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 6.4 percent higher in February 2010 compared to February 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 23.5 percent higher during this period, said BTS in its report.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $23.2 billion in February, up 28 percent compared to February 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 27.6 percent higher in February 2010 than February 2009 while the value of exports carried by truck was 18.3 percent higher.

Source: JOC