Figure 2-2 and 2-2M. U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Transportation Mode: 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 air and truck accounting for 25 percent and 19 percent respectively. Rail and pipeline account for the balance.

See paragraph above and table below for explanation of Figure 2-2

Chart in PDF format [2.7MB]

Data represented in the figure (standard units)
Table in Excel format | Historical data

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 data—U.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.

Figure 2-2M

Chart in PDF format [1.6MB]

Figure 2-2M (metric units - million metric tonnes)
Historical data

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.

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