U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

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.

U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transportation
Based on Weight of Merchandise, 2002
Graph showing mode of transportation based on weight of merchandise for U.S. imports and exports.

U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of Transportation
Based on Value of Merchandise, 2002
Graph showing mode of transportation based on value of merchandise for U.S. imports and exports.

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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