Fact #313: March 29, 2004
U.S. International Trade by Mode of Transportation, 2002

Measured in weight, more than 70% of U.S. imports and exports were moved by water in 2002. The same thing measured in value, however, produces a different picture; air transportation is responsible for the largest share of export movement.

Supporting Information

Weight of U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transportation, 2002

Mode	Exports (thousand short tons)	Modal share	Imports (thousand short tons)	Modal share	Total (thousand short tons)	Modal share
Water	349,835	73.3%	897,128	77.8%	1,246,963	76.5%
Air	2,549	0.5%	3,921	0.3%	6,470	0.4%
Truck	91,436	19.2%	96,344	8.4%	187,780	11.5%
Rail	24,858	5.2%	78,036	6.8%	102,894	6.3%
Pipeline	5,822	1.2%	74,826	6.5%	80,648	4.9%
Other/unknown	2,576	0.5%	2,757	0.2%	5,333	0.3%
Total	477,076	100.0%	1,153,012	100.0%	1,630,088	100.0%
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Pocket Guide to Transportation, 2004, p. 37.

 

Value of U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transportation, 2002

Mode	Exports (thousand short tons)	Modal share	Imports (thousand short tons)	Modal share	Total (thousand short tons)	Modal share
Water	191,062	27.6%	538,065	46.2%	729,127	39.3%
Air	225,322	32.5%	273,176	23.5%	498,498	26.8%
Truck	189,184	27.3%	208,579	17.9%	397,763	21.4%
Rail	24,117	3.5%	67,758	5.8%	91,875	4.9%
Pipeline	742	0.1%	21,833	1.9%	22,575	1.2%
Other/unknown	62,830	9.1%	54,139	4.7%	116,969	6.3%
Total	693,257	100.0%	1,163,550	100.0%	1,856,807	100.0%
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Pocket Guide to Transportation, 2004, p. 36.

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