Historical Data Now Available
WorldCity can provide two decades worth of import-export trade data for more than 20 of the United States’ leading trade partners, pictured above. The data allows you to spot and analyze trends in specific regions of the United States’ trade with the world, or with specific countries. All data is based on USD, but WorldCity can provide some information on tonnage, and in some cases TEUs, upon request.
Information for each country, provided in USD, includes:
- Total trade with all U.S. Customs districts – with one-year dollar and percentage changes and other annual intervals including three, five and 10-year.
- Each district’s rank, with rank changes, and the fastest and slowest growing districts for the most recent year of complete data (2011).
- Total exports and imports, with dollar and percent change data.
- Surplus/deficit with all Customs districts.
- Top 25 export commodities, with dollar and percent change data.
- Top 25 import commodities with dollar and percent change data.
WorldCity also maintains detailed data on more than 50 different export and import commodities dating back to 1992. The data is available for either the Customs district from where the commodities enter or exit the U.S., the countries to which exports head, or where imports come from. For each commodity the data includes:
- Dollar totals, and dollar and percent change for a number of annual intervals.
- Latest ranking and changes in ranking
- Fastest-and-slowest growing sources of imports, and gateways for exports.
For more information, or to purchase data, please contact Managing Editor Zachary Fagenson at
Exports
| Cell phones, phone equipments | Insulated wire, cable |
| Civilian aircraft, parts | Iron waste |
| Coal | Low-value shipments |
| Computer chips | Machinery parts |
| Computer parts | Medical equipment |
| Computers | Medicines |
| Copper waste | Military aircraft engines, parts |
| Corn | Motor vehicle parts |
| Cotton | Motor vehicles |
| Cotton yarn | Motor vehicles for transporting goods |
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | Oil |
| Diamonds | Petroleum gases |
| Electrical supplies | Photo-sensitive semiconductors |
| Engine parts | Printers |
| Engines | Propylene polymers |
| Ethers | Scrap precious metal |
| Ethyl alcohol | Semiconductor machinery |
| Ethylene polymers | Soybeans |
| Frozen fish | Taps, cocks, valves |
| Gold | TVs, video monitors |
| Hydrogen gases, including silicon | Vinyl chloride polymers |
| Wheat |
Imports
| Acyclic hydrocarbons | Motor vehicles for transporting goods |
| Aircraft engines, parts | Oil |
| Aircraft parts | Petroleum gases |
| Cell phones, phone equipment | Pipes |
| Computer chips | Pipes, seamless |
| Computer parts | Printers |
| Computers | Refrigerators, freezers |
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | Seats |
| Electric motors | Semiconductor machinery |
| Engine parts | Shoes |
| Imports of returned exports | Silver |
| Gasoline, other fuels | Sweaters |
| Gold | Taps, cocks, valves |
| Insulated wire, cable | Tires |
| Medical equipment | Toys, games |
| Medicine | Tractors |
| Motor vehicle parts | T-Shirts |
| Motor vehicles | TVs, video monitors |
| Video games |
Trade Data
| March 2012 |
Total Exports From US
| Rank | Commodity | Total YTD Exports |
|---|---|---|
1 | Oil, not crude | $24,010,028,715 |
2 | Aircraft | $22,999,709,186 |
3 | Motor vehicles for transporting people | $12,766,010,570 |
4 | Motor vehicle parts | $10,529,158,962 |
5 | Gold | $9,043,614,047 |
6 | Low value shipments | $8,819,790,397 |
7 | Electronic integrated circuits | $8,496,357,661 |
8 | Computers | $7,237,595,607 |
9 | Landline, cellular phone equipment | $7,010,713,397 |
10 | Medical instruments for surgeons, dentists, vets | $6,082,326,458 |
Total Imports To US
| Rank | Commodity | Total YTD Imports |
|---|---|---|
1 | Oil | $81,618,351,867 |
2 | Motor vehicles for transporting people | $35,234,064,177 |
3 | Oil, not crude | $22,775,542,802 |
4 | Computers | $19,972,942,878 |
5 | Landline, cellular phone equipment | $17,231,044,560 |
6 | Motor vehicle parts | $13,923,080,808 |
7 | Imports of returned exports | $11,740,450,647 |
8 | Medicine | $11,564,679,154 |
9 | Electronic integrated circuits | $6,727,795,716 |
10 | TVs, computer monitors | $6,496,632,721 |
| March 2012 |
Top US Trading Partners
| Rank | Country | Total YTD |
|---|---|---|
1 | CANADA | $153,987,495,076 |
2 | MEXICO | $122,398,351,478 |
3 | CHINA | $120,983,448,879 |
4 | JAPAN | $54,762,867,594 |
5 | GERMANY | $38,277,050,668 |
6 | UNITED KINGDOM | $28,840,373,748 |
7 | SOUTH KOREA | $25,150,256,689 |
8 | BRAZIL | $19,088,773,913 |
9 | SAUDI ARABIA | $18,638,133,172 |
10 | FRANCE | $17,857,130,070 |
For the first time in six years, Mexico tops China to rank No. 2
For the first time since the first quarter of 2006, Mexico has passed China to rank as the United States’ second most important trade partner, according to WorldCity analysis of the most recent U.S. Census bureau data.
U.S. trade with the world through the first quarter of 2012 was a record $934.38 billion, according to the statistics, released May 10. Canada remained the nation’s No. 1 trade partner, with its trade at a record $153.99 billion.
Mexico’s trade with the United States through March totaled $122.40 billion; China’s total was $120.98 billion.
Mexico overtook China because of surging U.S. exports to the NAFTA partner, led by motor vehicle parts, gasoline, computer parts, computers and corn. Total U.S. exports to Mexico increased $7.27 billion, while U.S. exports to China increased $928.33 million.
The change comes in the third year of the Obama Administration’s efforts to double U.S. exports in five years and as more multinationals look to “near-sourcing,” as a less expensive option to manufacturing in China and other Asian nations. WorldCity hosted a Trade Connections event in Miami in March focused on the topic, featuring noted supply chain expert, Texas A&M professor Barry Lawrence.
Growth in U.S. imports from the two countries were similar, with Mexican imports to the United States increasing $7.13 billion, or 11.48 percent, and Chinese imports increasing $7.79 billion, a slightly slower pace of 9.04 percent.
With Mexico, there were 13 U.S. export categories with an increase exceeding $100 million through the first three months of 2012, when compared to the same period of 2011. The biggest gains, in dollar terms, were with motor vehicle part exports fueling a booming auto manufacturing sector in Mexico, with an increase of $815.40 million; gasoline and other fuels, pegged to increasing oil prices, up $663.05 million; computer parts, up $438.73 million; corn, up $421.80 million; and computers, up $343.94 million.
Canada was joined by top 10 U.S. trade partners No. 4 Japan, No. 5 Germany, No. 6 the United Kingdom, No. 9 Saudi Arabia and No. 10 France in surpassing previous record trade levels through the first quarter of the year. All topped previous highs that had been established in the first quarter of 2008, just as the global recession began to take hold.
Mexico and China broke their 2008 first-quarter records in 2010, while No. 7 South Korea and No. 8 Brazil, did so in the first quarter of 2011.
Overall, U.S. exports to the world stood at a record $381.56 billion, up 8.68 percent, or about half the pace required to stay on track to double by 2014. Imports topped $522.82 billion, an 8.6 percent increase. While the percentage increases were nearly equal, a larger dollar increase for imports led to an increase in the deficit to $171.26 billion. It was higher in the first quarters of 2006, 2007 and 2008.
While the deficit increased, the percentage of each dollar of U.S. trade that is an export held steady at 41 cents, the fourth consecutive first quarter at that rate. Through the first quarters of 2005 and 2006, the total had been a record low 36 cents.
Looking at U.S. trade by Customs districts, New York City remained No. 1 in the nation, the rank it held at the end of 2011 for the first time in a decade, followed by perennial No. 1 Los Angeles. Houston and Detroit remained Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, followed by Laredo at No. 5, up one, and New Orleans, down one. Rounding out the top 10 were No. 7 Chicago, No. 8 Seattle, which moved ahead of the Atlanta/Savannah Customs district, and No. 10 Miami, which made its first appearance in the top 10.
Looking through the lens of statewide data, for the third straight year Texas led the nation for the first quarter of the year, followed by California. While the overall growth rate for U.S. trade through March was 8.63 percent, Texas trade increased 12.98 percent, largely due to imports of higher-priced oil and exports of higher-priced gasoline and other refined petroleum products.
New York state was third, followed by Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Washington state, to round out the top 10. In percentage terms, Michigan (16.27 percent) and Washington (15.99) grew the fastest among the top 10.
The statewide data measures the exports that are grown, manufactured, produced or otherwise enhanced in the state. On the import side, the products are “consumed” or otherwise utilized in the state.
Among U.S. exports, nine of the top 10 are in record territory, led by No. 1 gasoline, the value of which has doubled since the first quarter of 2010 and tripled since the trough of 2009.
The only top 10 export not at record levels is No. 7 computer chips, which remain 23.37 percent below the 2006 total for the same period. The other top 10 exports are No. 2 civilian aircraft and parts, No. 3 motor vehicles, No. 4 motor vehicle parts, No. 5 gold, No. 6 low-value shipments, No. 8 computers, No. 9 cell phones and related equipment, and No. 10 medical equipment.
Among top U.S. imports, oil was worth $81.62 billion, more than twice the total for No. 2 motor vehicles, at $35.23 billion. Two generally strong performers, cell phones and related equipment and pharmaceuticals both registered declines, when compared to the same period of 2011, as did computer chips and the category for TVs and computer monitors.