Top Houston Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Houston’s trade increases 12.43 percent through March

Houston’s trade with the world rose to $68,206,133,450 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 12.43 percent increases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports increased 10.21 percent while imports rose 14.26 percent.

Through March the district’s top trade partners were No. 1 Mexico, No. 2 Venezuela, No. 3 Saudi Arabia, No. 4 Brazil and No. 5 China. Through the first three months of the last year, top five spots were held by Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Nigeria and China, respectively.

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

• No.1 Mexico’s trade rose 1.42 percent to $7,507,892,220.
  Exports rose 15.74 percent to $3,273,407,127. Imports fell -7.44 percent to $4,234,485,093.
• No.2 Venezuela’s trade rose 20.60 percent to $5,302,383,053.
  Exports rose 75.89 percent to $1,095,313,401. Imports rose 11.47 percent to $4,207,069,652.
• No.3 Saudi Arabia’s trade rose 118.16 percent to $4,444,257,719.
  Exports rose 104.64 percent to $734,877,043. Imports rose 121.05 percent to $3,709,380,676.
• No.4 Brazil’s trade rose 0.13 percent to $3,584,765,584.
  Exports rose 0.18 percent to $2,204,358,920. Imports rose 0.05 percent to $1,380,406,664.
• No.5 China’s trade rose 19.02 percent to $3,073,138,854.
  Exports fell -9.89 percent to $936,767,129. Imports rose 38.51 percent to $2,136,371,725.

Houston’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 35.06 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Houston had trade surpluses with 147 countries and deficits with 60 through March. That compares with 146 surpluses and 56 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with Netherlands, $1,440,059,192; Chile, $1,092,069,869; and Brazil, $823,952,256. The top three deficits were with Venezuela ($3,111,756,251), Saudi Arabia ($2,974,503,633) and Nigeria ($1,536,609,610).

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.

Houston’s top five exports by value through March were oil, not crude; parts for heavy machinery; cyclic hydrocarbons; petroleum gases, other gaseous hydrocarbons; and polymers of ethylene, in that order. Those accounted for 44.25 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, oil, oil, not crude, seamless iron tubes and pipes and electronic integrated circuitsmotor vehicles for transporting people and , accounted for 67.80 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Houston exports:

• Oil, not crude rose 32.36 percent compared to last year to $9,425,351,615.
• Parts for heavy machinery rose 11.57 percent compared to last year to $1,371,678,943.
• Cyclic hydrocarbons rose 21.40 percent compared to last year to $1,097,580,251.
• Petroleum gases, other gaseous hydrocarbons rose 5.52 percent compared to last year to $761,962,087.
• Polymers of ethylene fell -10.49 percent compared to last year to $668,825,880.

On the import side:

• Oil rose 11.07 percent compared to last year to $19,692,976,662.
• Oil, not crude fell -13.06 percent compared to last year to $3,335,191,024.
• Seamless iron tubes and pipes rose 36.15 percent compared to last year to $1,147,726,936.
• Electronic integrated circuits rose 64.12 percent compared to last year to $1,025,549,472.
• Motor vehicles for transporting people rose 39.55 percent compared to last year to $626,492,060.

Last year the Houston district posted total trade with the world of $268,028,585,041. The district’s deficit was $-29,229,032,515. At year end, the region’s top five partners were Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Nigeria and China. Exports totaled $119,399,776,263 and imports came to $148,628,808,778.