Maritime Transportation in US International Freight

Trade is the engine that powers the maritime industry. And that’s because over 80 percent of goods, as measured by weight in metric tons, are transported by ship. Because of this, economists and industry analysts keep a close tab on maritime freight traffic. Variables they look at include the types of products transported, the mode of transportation used and between which countries these products are shipped.

Top United States Trading Partners

Although well over 350 billion dollars a year in goods flow between the United States and China, China is still not the United States’ major trading partner; Canada is, with over $429 billion in trade.

Following Canada is China at $366 billion, then Mexico at $305 billion. Japan, comes in fourth at $147 billion. The Netherlands, although a relatively small port country, does $48.4 billion, slightly outranking Taiwan, a relatively small island.
United States Top 5 Trading Partners, Billions of Dollars, 2009

SOURCE: United States Census Bureau, U.S. International Trade Statistics

Maritime World Trade

United States maritime trade statistics, for the most part, mirror international trade statistics. Canada, despite being the United States’ leading trade partner, is not a major maritime trading partner.

China and Japan are the United States’ number one and number two maritime trading partners. Over water, the United States imports over $343 billion from China and Japan. On the other hand, the United States brings in by ship only $67 billion in goods from Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, which are major oil suppliers to the United States.

United States. Waterborne Foreign Import by Trading Partners (Thousands of Dollars)

SOURCE: United States Department of Transportation: Maritime Administration

Breaking Down China’s Trade by Air and Water

The mode of shipment between China and the United States has trended away from water to air. In 2000, about 18 percent of product shipments were by air, compared to about 26 percent in 2006.

Still, though, trade by boat with China has soared since 1989, growing from just a mere $15 billion in 1989 to over $241 billion in 2006. Freight traffic by air from China has also grown dramatically. In 1989, air shipments totaled over $2 billion compared to $86 billion in 2006.

Value of U.S. Trade with China by Mode, 2000-2006 (Dollars in Billions)

SOURCE: FT 920 U.S. Merchandise Trade: Selected Highlights, U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce

In terms of maritime trade by metric tons, the leader hasn’t been China, but the oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Mexico. China, for the most part, exports computer and electronic goods to the United States. In 2009, of the estimated $350 billion in goods from China, over $100 billion of it was computer and electronic goods.

Vessel Trade within NAFTA (United States, Mexico and Canada)

Although Canada outranks Mexico as a trading partner with the United States, Mexico leads in vessel shipments. In 2005, total trade over the water between Mexico and the United States totaled over $40 billion compared to only $18 billion between Canada and the United States.

The main products that are shipped over water from Mexico and Canada are mineral fuels, oils and waxes, accounting for about 72 percent of total commodities shipped.

Unlike Canada though, the United States imports a large number of motor vehicles and parts from Mexico. Over $2 billion in motor vehicles and parts were imported into the United States by vessel in 2005. Mexico also exports a significant amount of apparel by boat into the United States, about $374 million a year.

Top Five Commodities Traded between United States and NAFTA Countries (Canada and Mexico), 2005 (Millions of Current U.S. dollars)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration

BREAKING DOWN TRADE BY PORTS

Over $2 trillion in imports and exports travel into and out of the United States through 125 major gateways every year. These gateways include water ports, train depots, truck stations and airports.

In 2008, the leading water ports in the United States in terms of dollars included Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Long Beach and Charleston. Los Angeles led the way by far, with $243 billion in maritime freight, leading New York by almost $60 billion, which came in at $185 billion. Charleston ranked number 12 in gateway traffic and number 5 in 2008 with total trade of $62 billion.

Top 10 U.S. Freight Gateways Water and Air Modes By Airport and Port, 2008 Data ($Millions)

SOURCE: Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) • U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT).