Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations

Figures 2-5 and 2-5M. U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Transportation Mode: 2001

Nearly 80 percent of freight tons in U.S. foreign trade are transported by ship. Although the vast majority of freight tonnage in U.S. foreign trade moves by water, air and truck transportation are nearly as important when freight value is considered. By value, the water share drops to 40 percent, with 28 percent moving by air and 21 percent moving by truck.

See paragraph above and tables below for explanation of Figure 2-5

Data represented in Figure 2-5 (standard units)
Table in Excel format

Mode Total trade
Billions of current U.S. dollars
Exports
Billions of current U.S. dollars
Imports
Billions of current U.S. dollars
Water718199520
Air519251267
Truck395192204
Rail932369
Pipeline260.526
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous1216557
Total, all modes1,8737311,142

Mode Total trade
Millions of short tons
Exports
Millions of short tons
Imports
Millions of short tons
Water1,276361915
Air633
Truck1808992
Rail972275
Pipeline79475
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous422
Total, all modes1,6434811,162

Data represented in Figure 2-5M (metric units)
Table in Excel format

Mode Total trade
Billions of current U.S. dollars
Exports
Billions of current U.S. dollars
Imports
Billions of current U.S. dollars
Water718199520
Air519251267
Truck395192204
Rail932369
Pipeline260.526
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous1216557
Total, all modes1,8737311,142

Mode Total trade
Millions of metric tonnes
Exports
Millions of metric tonnes
Imports
Millions of metric tonnes
Water1,157327830
Air623
Truck1648183
Rail882068
Pipeline72468
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous322
Total, all modes1,4904361,055

Note: 1 short ton = 2,000lbs.

Note: 1 short ton = 0.91 metric tonne.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. International Trade and Freight Transportation Trends, (Washington, DC: 2003), table 7, available at Exit Linkwww.bts.gov.

You will need the Microsoft Excel Viewer to view the Excel files on this page.

Office of Operations