Top Mobile Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Mobile’s trade increases 21.88 percent through March

Mobile’s trade with the world rose to $10,455,250,119 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 21.88 percent increases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports increased 23.95 percent while imports rose 20.92 percent.

Through March the district’s top trade partners were No. 1 Mexico, No. 2 Brazil, No. 3 Germany, No. 4 Panama and No. 5 South Korea. Through the first three months of the last year, top five spots were held by Mexico, Germany, Nigeria, Colombia and South Korea, respectively.

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

• No.1 Mexico’s trade fell -15.33 percent to $1,463,736,508.
  Exports fell -35.65 percent to $211,968,093. Imports fell -10.55 percent to $1,251,768,415.
• No.2 Brazil’s trade rose 270.50 percent to $1,430,009,019.
  Exports rose 162.74 percent to $94,487,580. Imports rose 281.58 percent to $1,335,521,439.
• No.3 Germany’s trade rose 1.44 percent to $761,069,565.
  Exports fell -21.58 percent to $143,575,408. Imports rose 8.87 percent to $617,494,157.
• No.4 Panama’s trade rose 68.29 percent to $649,280,723.
  Exports rose 68.62 percent to $647,597,804. Imports fell -3.55 percent to $1,682,919.
• No.5 South Korea’s trade rose 21.85 percent to $546,312,322.
  Exports fell -16.36 percent to $36,331,126. Imports rose 25.95 percent to $509,981,196.

Mobile’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 46.39 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Mobile had trade surpluses with 82 countries and deficits with 65 through March. That compares with 90 surpluses and 57 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with Panama, $645,914,885; Belgium, $287,134,247; and Guatemala, $104,059,752. The top three deficits were with Brazil ($1,241,033,859), Mexico ($1,039,800,322) and Germany ($473,918,749).

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.

Mobile’s top five exports by value through March were oil, not crude; medical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets; chemical woodpulp, not dissolving grade; poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen; and misc. uncoated kraft paper, paperboard, in that order. Those accounted for 51.65 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, oil, semifinished products of iron, nonalloy steel, motor vehicle parts and internal combustion engines, including aircraftoil, not crude and , accounted for 63.80 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Mobile exports:

• Oil, not crude rose 32.17 percent compared to last year to $1,124,949,920.
• Medical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets rose 58.83 percent compared to last year to $222,110,076.
• Chemical woodpulp, not dissolving grade fell -4.85 percent compared to last year to $174,032,360.
• Poultry, fresh, chilled or frozen rose 283.58 percent compared to last year to $124,524,204.
• Misc. uncoated kraft paper, paperboard rose 4.71 percent compared to last year to $93,938,867.

On the import side:

• Oil rose 15.04 percent compared to last year to $3,411,996,153.
• Semifinished products of Iron, nonalloy steel rose 107.83 percent compared to last year to $487,547,478.
• Motor vehicle parts rose 7.12 percent compared to last year to $303,047,295.
• Internal combustion engines, including aircraft rose 28.51 percent compared to last year to $178,289,244.
• Oil, not crude fell -42.24 percent compared to last year to $140,575,259.

Last year the Mobile district posted total trade with the world of $38,431,536,961. The district’s deficit was $-15,201,696,755. At year end, the region’s top five partners were Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Germany and South Korea. Exports totaled $11,614,920,103 and imports came to $26,816,616,858.