Top Milwaukee Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Milwaukee’s trade increases 29.54 percent through March

Milwaukee’s trade with the world rose to $212,067,423 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 29.54 percent increases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports increased 231.17 percent while imports rose 25.73 percent.

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

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

• No.1 China’s trade rose 42.92 percent to $46,916,973.
  Exports rose 58.07 percent to $16,022. Imports rose 42.92 percent to $46,900,951.
• No.2 Italy’s trade rose 23.88 percent to $29,280,406.
  Exports rose 2,960.62 percent to $178,893. Imports rose 23.15 percent to $29,101,513.
• No.3 Germany’s trade fell -23.00 percent to $16,554,692.
  Exports fell -3.84 percent to $125,797. Imports fell -23.12 percent to $16,428,895.
• No.4 Israel’s trade rose 93.66 percent to $14,455,037.
  Exports fell to $0. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated. Imports rose 93.66 percent to $14,455,037.
• No.5 Finland’s trade rose 57.81 percent to $12,225,833.
  Exports fell to $0. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated. Imports rose 57.81 percent to $12,225,833.

Milwaukee’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 56.32 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Milwaukee had trade surpluses with 7 countries and deficits with 58 through March. That compares with 6 surpluses and 58 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with Argentina, $799,950; Curacao, $514,907; and Colombia, $49,863. The top three deficits were with China ($46,884,929), Italy ($28,922,620) and Germany ($16,303,098).

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.

Milwaukee’s top five exports by value through March were exports of repaired imports; medicine; aircraft parts; bread, pastry, cakes; and misc. builders' plastics, in that order. Those accounted for 73.64 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, parts for heavy machinery, footware, sole of rubber, plastic or leather; uppe, transmission shafts, bearings, gears and x-ray apparatusmedical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets and , accounted for 37.81 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Milwaukee exports:

• Exports of repaired imports rose 1,175.03 percent compared to last year to $4,975,152.
• Medicine rose compared to last year to $803,420. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated.
• Aircraft parts rose compared to last year to $696,478. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated.
• Bread, pastry, cakes rose compared to last year to $562,060. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated.
• Misc. builders' plastics rose compared to last year to $360,142. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated.

On the import side:

• Parts for heavy machinery rose 46.93 percent compared to last year to $22,282,330.
• Footware, sole of rubber, plastic or leather; uppe rose compared to last year to $19,916,146. The total for the comparable period in 2011 was $0 so a percentage cannot be calculated.
• Transmission shafts, bearings, gears rose 171.27 percent compared to last year to $12,997,869.
• X-ray apparatus rose 155.57 percent compared to last year to $11,683,340.
• Medical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets rose 45.14 percent compared to last year to $9,508,819.

Last year the Milwaukee district posted total trade with the world of $1,574,571,020. The district’s deficit was $-1,022,386,254. At year end, the region’s top five partners were Canada, France, Germany, China and Italy. Exports totaled $276,092,383 and imports came to $1,298,478,637.