If the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were an economic engine, it would have reached unprecedented power levels this March. According to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), surface transportation trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico surpassed $85 billion in March — the highest monthly figure recorded since data collection began in 1994.
This milestone not only eclipses all previous monthly records but also significantly exceeds the previous peak of $80.8 billion set in March 2011, signaling a robust recovery and expansion of trade across the continent.
Drivers of Growth
Several key factors contributed to this surge: the gradual recovery of the global economy has increased demand for U.S. goods and services; optimized supply chains have improved cross-border trade efficiency; and governments across North America have prioritized trade facilitation through policy support.
Performance varied across sectors, with particularly strong growth in automotive parts, electronics, and agricultural products. The automotive sector alone accounted for nearly 25% of the total trade volume, reflecting continued integration of North American manufacturing networks.
Beyond Surface Transportation
These figures represent only surface transportation trade, excluding other modes such as air and sea freight. When accounting for all transportation methods, the total trade volume across North America likely reaches even higher levels.
With the continued implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and ongoing investments in infrastructure and trade facilitation programs, analysts project sustained growth in regional trade. This momentum is expected to further energize North America's economic integration and competitiveness in global markets.
The record-breaking March figures demonstrate the resilience of North American supply chains and suggest that the region's trade architecture is successfully adapting to post-pandemic economic realities. As production networks continue to evolve, the foundations laid by decades of trade integration appear to be yielding dividends.