Top Washington, D.C. Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Washington, D.C.’s trade decreases -16.01 percent through March

Washington, D.C.’s trade with the world rose to $3,116,810,995 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s -16.01 percent decreases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports decreased -19.12 percent while imports dropped -14.03 percent.

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

Taking a closer look at the leading trade partners with Washington, D.C.:

• No.1 United Kingdom’s trade rose 43.95 percent to $1,072,454,185.
  Exports rose 13.18 percent to $186,253,496. Imports rose 52.67 percent to $886,200,689.
• No.2 Belgium’s trade fell -48.86 percent to $467,626,955.
  Exports rose 25.82 percent to $51,287,429. Imports fell -52.35 percent to $416,339,526.
• No.3 Germany’s trade fell -20.23 percent to $279,605,266.
  Exports fell -16.84 percent to $181,565,660. Imports fell -25.82 percent to $98,039,606.
• No.4 Japan’s trade rose 14.77 percent to $173,932,517.
  Exports rose 18.86 percent to $149,658,773. Imports fell -5.32 percent to $24,273,744.
• No.5 France’s trade fell -23.59 percent to $107,855,570.
  Exports fell -49.37 percent to $30,688,815. Imports fell -4.18 percent to $77,166,755.

Washington, D.C.’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 67.42 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Washington, D.C. had trade surpluses with 130 countries and deficits with 35 through March. That compares with 127 surpluses and 43 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with Japan, $125,385,029; Germany, $83,526,054; and Netherlands, $62,057,766. The top three deficits were with United Kingdom ($699,947,193), Belgium ($365,052,097) and Austria ($56,506,567).

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.

Washington, D.C.’s top five exports by value through March were aircraft; human blood, animal blood, plasma, vaccines; aircraft parts; aircraft engines, parts; and computers, in that order. Those accounted for 33.07 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, nucleic acids and salts, heterocyclic compounds, human blood, animal blood, plasma, vaccines, medicine and imports of returned exportselectronic integrated circuits and , accounted for 73.99 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Washington, D.C. exports:

• Aircraft fell -52.76 percent compared to last year to $109,891,716.
• Human blood, animal blood, plasma, vaccines rose 104.75 percent compared to last year to $86,057,026.
• Aircraft parts fell -12.75 percent compared to last year to $74,292,380.
• Aircraft engines, parts fell -0.25 percent compared to last year to $61,050,516.
• Computers fell -4.89 percent compared to last year to $54,048,233.

On the import side:

• Nucleic acids and salts, heterocyclic compounds rose 15.75 percent compared to last year to $917,658,382.
• Human blood, animal blood, plasma, vaccines fell -24.77 percent compared to last year to $235,324,980.
• Medicine fell -30.48 percent compared to last year to $175,751,185.
• Imports of returned exports rose 168.14 percent compared to last year to $66,807,232.
• Electronic integrated circuits rose 138.20 percent compared to last year to $48,455,768.

Last year the Washington, D.C. district posted total trade with the world of $14,126,874,308. The district’s deficit was $-3,813,009,222. At year end, the region’s top five partners were United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Japan and Netherlands. Exports totaled $5,156,932,543 and imports came to $8,969,941,765.