Top Wilmington Trading Partners

Top US Trading Partners

Wilmington’s trade increases 18.43 percent through March

Wilmington’s trade with the world rose to $5,413,712,527 through the first three months of 2012, according to a WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 18.43 percent increases the Customs district’s total trade during the same time period last year. The district’s exports increased 36.83 percent while imports rose 12.04 percent.

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

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

• No.1 China’s trade fell -4.51 percent to $866,251,302.
  Exports rose 11.27 percent to $162,091,241. Imports fell -7.53 percent to $704,160,061.
• No.2 United Kingdom’s trade rose 38.54 percent to $563,639,564.
  Exports rose 46.23 percent to $181,819,360. Imports rose 35.15 percent to $381,820,204.
• No.3 Ireland’s trade rose 66.63 percent to $523,845,274.
  Exports rose 22.82 percent to $49,283,314. Imports rose 73.04 percent to $474,561,960.
• No.4 Singapore’s trade rose 92.99 percent to $471,358,027.
  Exports rose 5.86 percent to $4,248,201. Imports rose 94.45 percent to $467,109,826.
• No.5 Germany’s trade fell -0.96 percent to $340,178,734.
  Exports rose 9.10 percent to $65,583,064. Imports fell -3.10 percent to $274,595,670.

Wilmington’s top five trading partners through March accounted for 51.08 percent of its trade with the world. The U.S. average for the same period was 52.49 percent.

Wilmington had trade surpluses with 72 countries and deficits with 69 through March. That compares with 57 surpluses and 79 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through March of this year were with United Arab Emirates, $259,880,372; Hong Kong, $104,514,006; and Belgium, $64,720,963. The top three deficits were with China ($542,068,820), Singapore ($462,861,625) and Ireland ($425,278,646).

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.

Wilmington’s top five exports by value through March were bombs, grenades, cartridges, parts; photo-sensitive semi-conductors, parts; phosphoric, related acids; medical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets; and misc. mineral or chemical fertilizers, in that order. Those accounted for 44.39 percent of its total outbound trade. The value of the district’s top five imports, medicine, imports of returned exports, aircraft engines, parts and oil, not cruderubber and , accounted for 34.11 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at Wilmington exports:

• Bombs, grenades, cartridges, parts rose 553.27 percent compared to last year to $421,961,962.
• Photo-sensitive semi-conductors, parts rose 1.77 percent compared to last year to $93,023,149.
• Phosphoric, related acids rose 1.46 percent compared to last year to $69,242,305.
• Medical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets rose 34.97 percent compared to last year to $68,794,452.
• Misc. mineral or chemical fertilizers rose 342.79 percent compared to last year to $62,595,429.

On the import side:

• Medicine rose 2.27 percent compared to last year to $657,781,296.
• Imports of returned exports rose 316.30 percent compared to last year to $242,426,128.
• Aircraft engines, parts rose 83.73 percent compared to last year to $141,583,105.
• Oil, not crude rose 31.58 percent compared to last year to $134,897,352.
• Rubber rose 6.65 percent compared to last year to $119,934,144.

Last year the Wilmington district posted total trade with the world of $20,656,768,755. The district’s deficit was $-9,647,677,435. At year end, the region’s top five partners were China, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore. Exports totaled $5,504,545,660 and imports came to $15,152,223,095.