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Figures 2-6 and 2-6M. U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transportation: 2005

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 44 percent, with 25 percent moving by air and 19 percent moving by truck.

See paragraph above and tables below for explanation of Figure 2-6

Data represented in Figure 2-6 (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
Water 1,121 262 859
Air 652 293 359
Truck 491 235 256
Rail 116 35 81
Pipeline 52 3 49
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous 144 77 66
Total, all modes 2,575 904 1,671

Mode Total trade
Millions of short tons
Exports
Millions of short tons
Imports
Millions of short tons
Water 1,487 390 1,097
Air 7 3 4
Truck 191 89 102
Rail 141 48 93
Pipeline 86 5 81
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous 5 5 0
Total, all modes 1,917 539 1,378

Note: 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds.

SOURCE: Compiled by U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), August 2006. Water and air dataU.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Exports of Merchandise and U.S. Imports of Merchandise, December 2005. Total, truck, rail, pipeline, other and unknown data—USDOT, RITA, BTS, Transborder Freight Data 2005; and special calculation, August 2006.


Data represented in Figure 2-6M (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
Water 1,121 262 859
Air 652 293 359
Truck 491 235 256
Rail 116 35 81
Pipeline 52 3 49
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous 144 77 66
Total, all modes 2,575 904 1,671

Mode Total trade
Millions of metric tonnes
Exports
Millions of metric tonnes
Imports
Millions of metric tonnes
Water 1,349 354 995
Air 7 3 4
Truck 173 81 92
Rail 128 43 85
Pipeline 78 4 73
Other, unknown, and miscellaneous 5 5 0
Total, all modes 1,739 489 1,250

Note: 1 short ton = 0.91 metric tonne.

SOURCE: Compiled by U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), August 2006. Water and air dataU.S.. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Exports of Merchandise and U.S. Imports of Merchandise, December 2005. Total, truck, rail, pipeline, other and unknown data—USDOT, RITA, BTS, Transborder Freight Data 2005; and special calculation, August 2006.

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