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Figure 11
U.S. International Freight and Port Services Trade: 1990-2008

Figure 11
U.S. International Freight and Port Services Trade: 1990-2008

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Figure 11 - U.S. International Freight and Port Services Trade: 1990-2008. If you are a user with disability and cannot view this image, use the table version. If you need further assistance, call 800-853-1351.

NOTE: Data cover total payments and receipts. Payments consist of money paid by domestic consumers to foreign carriers or service providers. Receipts consist of money received by domestic carriers or service providers from foreign sources.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, based on data from U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. International Transactions Accounts Data, available at www.bea.gov/international/bp_web/simple.cfm?anon=104324&table_id=22&area_id=3 as of Sept. 10, 2009.

  • Freight carriers transport international cargo between the United States and its trading partners around the world. In addition to trade in merchandise, the United States buys (imports) and sells (exports) freight services via the various transportation modes. The freight and port services sector includes several industries, including carriers, ports, terminal operators, and third-party logistics providers, such as freight forwarders and consolidators.

  • In 2008, U.S. trade in freight and port services was $131 billion. Receipts for exports were $59 billion, and payments for imports were $72 billion. Of the $131 billion, 52 percent ($68 billion) was for freight services and the remainder was for port services.