United States Balance of Trade  1950-2017 | Data | Chart | Calendar

The goods and services deficit in the United States widened to USD 47.6 billion in April of 2017 from an upwardly revised USD 45.6 billion gap a month earlier and higher than market expectations of a USD 46.1 billion shortfall. Exports fell 0.3 percent to USD 190.98 billion, driven by lower sales of consumer goods and vehicles. Imports rose 0.8 percent to USD 238.6 billion, boosted by cellphones and capital goods. Balance of Trade in the United States averaged -13749.72 USD Million from 1950 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 1946 USD Million in June of 1975 and a record low of -67823 USD Million in August of 2006.

United States Balance of Trade
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus Forecast (i)
2017-04-04 12:30 PM Feb $-43.6B $-48.2B $-44.8B $-47B
2017-05-04 12:30 PM Mar $-43.7B $-43.8B $-44.5B $ -44.4B
2017-06-02 12:30 PM Apr $-47.6B $-45.3B $-46.1B $ -44B
2017-07-06 12:30 PM May $-47.6B $ -45B
2017-08-04 12:30 PM Jun $ -44.9B
2017-09-06 12:30 PM Jul $ -44.9B




US Trade Deficit Higher Than Expected In April


The goods and services deficit in the United States widened to USD 47.6 billion in April of 2017 from an upwardly revised USD 45.6 billion gap a month earlier and higher than market expectations of a USD 46.1 billion shortfall. Exports fell 0.3 percent to USD 190.98 billion, driven by lower sales of consumer goods and vehicles. Imports rose 0.8 percent to USD 238.6 billion, boosted by cellphones and capital goods.

The April decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of USD 2.3 billion to USD 68.4 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of less than USD 0.1 billion to USD 20.8 billion.

Total exports went down 0.3 percent to USD 191 billion, the lowest value in four months. 

Exports of goods decreased USD 0.5 billion to USD 126.9 billion: consumer goods fell USD 0.7 billion; artwork, antiques, stamps, and other collectibles decreased USD 0.4 billion; pharmaceutical preparations went down USD 0.2 billion; automotive vehicles, parts, and engines declined USD 0.5 billion and passenger cars dropped USD 0.3 billion. In contrast, foods, feeds, and beverages increased USD 0.6 billion. Exports of services increased USD 0.1 billion to USD 64 billion: travel (for all purposes including education) increased USD 0.1 billion while transport, which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, decreased USD 0.1 billion.

Total imports went up 0.8 percent to USD 238.6 billion, the highest value in three months.

Imports of goods rose USD 1.8 billion to USD 195.3 billion, led by consumer goods (USD 1.9 billion); cell phones (USD 1.8 billion); artwork, antiques, stamps, and other collectibles (USD 0.5 billion) and capital goods (USD 0.9 billion). In contrast, imports of industrial supplies and materials decreased (USD -1.5 billion), with crude oil falling by USD 1.9 billion. Imports of increased USD 0.1 billion to USD 43.3 billion: transport, which includes freight and port services and passenger fares edged up USD 0.1 billion.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, exports went down to Canada (-9 percent), Mexico (-10.3 percent), the EU (-10.6 percent) and OPEC (-12.1 percent). In contrast, exports went up to China (2.2 percent), Japan (2.9 percent) and Brazil (1.3 percent). Imports rose from China (9.6 percent). In contrast, imports declined from Canada (-7.5 percent), Mexico (-10.3 percent), OPEC (-14.3 percent), the EU (-3.7 percent), Brazil (-2.7 percent), and Japan (-14.3 percent). 

The US trade deficit widened with China (USD -27.6 billion from USD -24.6 billion in March), the EU (USD -12.5 billion from USD -11.2 billion) and Canada (USD -1.6 billion from USD -1.4 billion) but narrowed with OPEC (USD -1 billion from USD -1.4 billion), Japan (USD -5.2 billion from USD -7.2 billion) and Mexico (USD -6.3 billion from USD -7 billion). 

Considering the first four months of the year, the average goods and services deficit increased USD 22.1 billion to USD 186.6 billion: exports went up than USD 44.3 billion to USD 765.6 billion and imports rose USD 6.4 billion to USD 952.2 billion.

BEA | Yekaterina Guchshina | yekaterina@tradingeconomics.com
6/2/2017 1:38:00 PM


Recent Releases

US Trade Gap Lowest In 5 Months In March
The goods and services deficit in the United States narrowed slightly to USD 43.7 billion in March of 2017 from an upwardly revised USD 43.8 billion gap a month earlier and lower than market expectations of a USD 44.5 billion shortfall. Exports declined for the first time in four months mainly due to lower sales to China and imports fell for the second straight month.
Published on 2017-05-04

US Trade Deficit Lower Than Expected
The goods and services deficit in the United States narrowed to USD 43.6 billion in February of 2017 from a downwardly revised USD 48.2 billion gap a month earlier and lower than market expectations of a USD 44.8 billion shortfall. Exports increased 0.2 percent to 2 year high, boosted by rise in shipments of cars and industrial supplies and materials while imports went down 1.8 percent.
Published on 2017-04-04

US Trade Gap Largest Since March 2012
The goods and services deficit in the United States widened to USD 48.5 billion in January of 2017 from a USD 44.3 billion gap a month earlier and in line with market expectations of a USD 48.5 billion shortfall. It is the highest deficit since March of 2012 as imports jumped 2.3 percent due to consumer goods and oil and exports rose at a slower 0.6 percent.
Published on 2017-03-07

US Trade Deficit Narrows in December
The goods and services deficit in the United States narrowed to USD 44.3 billion in December of 2016 from an upwardly revised USD 45.7 billion gap a month earlier and lower than market expectations of a USD 45 billion shortfall. Exports reached the highest in 1-1/2-years with shipments of advanced technology goods hitting a record high. Considering full 2016, the trade deficit widened 0.4 percent to a four-year high of USD 502.3 billion.
Published on 2017-02-07



United States Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade -47617.00 -45283.00 1946.00 -67823.00 USD Million [+]
Exports 190975.00 191458.00 200144.00 772.00 USD Million [+]
Imports 238592.00 236741.00 242243.00 577.00 USD Million [+]
Current Account -116781.00 -114006.00 9957.00 -215769.00 USD Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -2.60 -2.60 0.20 -6.00 percent [+]
External Debt -8109652.00 -7781138.00 -1232107.00 -8109652.00 USD Million [+]
Terms of Trade 99.25 99.82 168.28 91.82 Index Points [+]
Capital Flows 65766.00 9320.00 272938.00 -204284.00 USD Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 37539.00 22963.00 46165.00 -9988.00 USD Million [+]
Net Long Term Tic Flows 1836.00 59767.00 160371.00 -72882.00 USD Million [+]
Gold Reserves 8133.46 8133.46 8149.05 8133.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 9098.00 9031.00 10044.00 3983.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Tourism Revenues 20828.00 20983.00 20983.00 6496.00 USD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 6507601.00 7958601.00 8364940.00 2095665.00 [+]
Terrorism Index 4.88 4.61 7.39 3.70 [+]
Weapons Sales 9894.00 10184.00 16071.00 1769.00 USD Million [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



United States Balance of Trade Notes

The United States has been running consistent trade deficits since 1976 due to high imports of oil and consumer products. In recent years, the biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Japan, Germany and Mexico. United States records trade surpluses with Hong Kong, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and Australia. Mexico is the United States' 2nd largest export market and the 3rd largest supplier of imports. Main exports include nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery (around 18% of total sales); electrical, electronic equipment (18%); vehicles other than railway, tramway (10%); mineral fuels (8%) and plastics (7%). Main imports from Mexico include vehicles other than railway, tramway (25% of total imports); electrical, electronic equipment (20%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery (15%); mineral fuels (5%). Mexico is also the US third largest export market for agricultural products including corn, soybeans, dairy products, pork and beef and is the second largest source of imported agricultural goods including fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, wine and beer, snack foods and processed fruit & vegetables. In 2016, the US recorded a USD 59 billion trade deficit with Mexico. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Balance of Trade - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2017.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-47617.00 -45283.00 1946.00 -67823.00 1950 - 2017 USD Million Monthly
SA



balance of trade by Country

Last
Australia 555.00 Apr/17
Brazil 7661.00 May/17
Canada -370.30 Apr/17
China 407.90 May/17
Euro Area 17858.90 Apr/17
France -5535.00 Apr/17
Germany 18078.00 Apr/17
India -13841.70 May/17
Indonesia 474.00 May/17
Italy 3601.32 Apr/17
Japan -203.37 May/17
Mexico 616.79 Apr/17
Netherlands 3833.00 Apr/17
Russia 8001.00 Apr/17
South Korea 5990.00 May/17
Spain -1198829.00 Apr/17
Switzerland 3400.03 May/17
Turkey -4945.41 Apr/17
United Kingdom -2050.00 Apr/17
United States -47617.00 Apr/17