Top Baltimore Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Baltimore’s trade increases 18.98 percent through March

Baltimore’s trade with the world rose to $14,023,448,706 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 18.98 percent increases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports increased 33.74 percent while imports rose 10.52 percent.

Through March the district’s top trade partners were No. 1 Germany, No. 2 China, No. 3 United Kingdom, No. 4 Japan and No. 5 Brazil. Through the first three months of the last year, top five spots were held by Germany, China, United Kingdom, Japan and Brazil, respectively.

Taking a closer look at the leading trade partners with Baltimore:

• No.1 Germany’s trade rose 26.52 percent to $1,736,694,675.
  Exports rose 114.26 percent to $340,625,157. Imports rose 15.03 percent to $1,396,069,518.
• No.2 China’s trade fell -2.45 percent to $1,036,324,405.
  Exports rose 6.85 percent to $329,674,061. Imports fell -6.25 percent to $706,650,344.
• No.3 United Kingdom’s trade rose 34.33 percent to $1,032,464,030.
  Exports rose 13.54 percent to $246,210,571. Imports rose 42.51 percent to $786,253,459.
• No.4 Japan’s trade rose 19.61 percent to $913,649,391.
  Exports fell -35.76 percent to $171,800,349. Imports rose 49.44 percent to $741,849,042.
• No.5 Brazil’s trade rose 12.70 percent to $600,294,563.
  Exports rose 2.07 percent to $180,403,068. Imports rose 17.98 percent to $419,891,495.

Baltimore’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 37.93 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Baltimore had trade surpluses with 108 countries and deficits with 69 through March. That compares with 93 surpluses and 79 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with Saudi Arabia, $396,623,234; United Arab Emirates, $253,093,618; and Australia, $228,995,732. The top three deficits were with Germany ($1,055,444,361), Japan ($570,048,693) and United Kingdom ($540,042,888).

Meanwhile, total U.S. trade increased to $934,379,177,983, up 8.63 percent compared to the same period last year. The nation’s exports climbed 3.54 percent to $30,467,217,700 as imports rose 5.09 percent to $43,800,507,934. The nation’s top five trade districts so far this year, by value, are New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Detroit and Laredo. The overall trade deficit was $-171,264,242,143, up compared to the same period of last year when the deficit was $-157,930,951,909.

Baltimore’s top five exports by value through March were motor vehicles for transporting people; coal, briquettes; tractors; aircraft; and harvesting machinery for poultry, in that order. Those accounted for 58.13 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, motor vehicles for transporting people, self-propelled heavy construction machinery, nickle, unwrought 7502 and radioactive chemical elements and isotopesferroalloys 7202 and , accounted for 40.14 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Baltimore exports:

• Motor vehicles for transporting people rose 119.81 percent compared to last year to $1,611,950,471.
• Coal, briquettes fell -6.76 percent compared to last year to $735,671,931.
• Tractors rose 89.45 percent compared to last year to $505,918,708.
• Aircraft rose 419.02 percent compared to last year to $254,890,007.
• Harvesting machinery for poultry rose 131.56 percent compared to last year to $229,190,200.

On the import side:

• Motor vehicles for transporting people rose 14.48 percent compared to last year to $2,036,288,195.
• Self-propelled heavy construction machinery rose 82.28 percent compared to last year to $482,966,281.
• Nickle, Unwrought 7502 fell -29.00 percent compared to last year to $295,161,999.
• Radioactive chemical elements and isotopes fell -9.76 percent compared to last year to $272,934,114.
• Ferroalloys 7202 rose 18.00 percent compared to last year to $236,804,524.

Last year the Baltimore district posted total trade with the world of $53,278,984,863. The district’s deficit was $-11,301,838,043. At year end, the region’s top five partners were Germany, China, United Kingdom, Japan and Russia. Exports totaled $20,988,573,410 and imports came to $32,290,411,453.