Top Detroit Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Detroit’s trade increases 7.71 percent through March

Detroit’s trade with the world rose to $63,319,659,874 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 7.71 percent increases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports increased 4.78 percent while imports rose 10.81 percent.

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

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

• No.1 Canada’s trade rose 6.40 percent to $54,040,186,954.
  Exports rose 4.22 percent to $28,210,140,225. Imports rose 8.89 percent to $25,830,046,729.
• No.2 Germany’s trade rose 7.78 percent to $1,484,725,025.
  Exports rose 2.65 percent to $683,056,190. Imports rose 12.59 percent to $801,668,835.
• No.3 Japan’s trade rose 120.59 percent to $1,377,696,200.
  Exports fell -28.85 percent to $74,722,649. Imports rose 150.80 percent to $1,302,973,551.
• No.4 China’s trade rose 17.16 percent to $1,154,280,637.
  Exports rose 54.51 percent to $58,509,988. Imports rose 15.67 percent to $1,095,770,649.
• No.5 United Kingdom’s trade rose 13.41 percent to $807,388,726.
  Exports rose 19.62 percent to $694,346,011. Imports fell -14.04 percent to $113,042,715.

Detroit’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 92.96 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Detroit had trade surpluses with 87 countries and deficits with 75 through March. That compares with 89 surpluses and 70 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with Canada, $2,380,093,496; United Kingdom, $581,303,296; and Belgium, $353,176,254. The top three deficits were with Japan ($1,228,250,902), China ($1,037,260,661) and South Korea ($293,774,846).

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.

Detroit’s top five exports by value through March were motor vehicle parts; motor vehicles for transporting people; motor vehicles for transporting goods; internal combustion engines, including aircraft; and computers, in that order. Those accounted for 26.87 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, motor vehicles for transporting people, motor vehicle parts, oil and internal combustion engines, including aircraftaluminum, unwrought and , accounted for 43.98 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Detroit exports:

• Motor vehicle parts rose 4.37 percent compared to last year to $3,726,013,525.
• Motor vehicles for transporting people rose 8.03 percent compared to last year to $1,751,093,903.
• Motor vehicles for transporting goods fell -1.08 percent compared to last year to $1,428,435,882.
• Internal combustion engines, including aircraft rose 5.97 percent compared to last year to $861,482,892.
• Computers rose 6.58 percent compared to last year to $740,863,511.

On the import side:

• Motor vehicles for transporting people rose 10.38 percent compared to last year to $8,223,631,099.
• Motor vehicle parts rose 25.96 percent compared to last year to $3,059,260,500.
• Oil rose 52.25 percent compared to last year to $1,176,234,996.
• Internal combustion engines, including aircraft rose 42.26 percent compared to last year to $734,187,864.
• Aluminum, unwrought fell -4.99 percent compared to last year to $729,157,134.

Last year the Detroit district posted total trade with the world of $243,638,928,453. The district’s surplus was $2,089,396,153. At year end, the region’s top five partners were Canada, Germany, China, United Kingdom and Japan. Exports totaled $122,864,162,303 and imports came to $120,774,766,150.