The US trade gap narrowed to $68.9 billion in April of 2021 from a record high $75 billion gap in March and in line with market expectations. Exports were up 1.1% to $205 billion, due to civilian aircraft ($1.4 billion), crude oil ($1.0 billion), other petroleum products ($0.6 billion), fuel oil ($0.5 billion), travel ($0.2 billion) and transport ($0.2 billion). Imports dropped 1.4% to $273.9 billion due to other textile apparel and household goods ($-0.9 billion), toys, games, and sporting goods ($-0.7 billion), household appliances ($-0.7 billion), automotive parts and accessories ($-0.7 billion) and passenger cars ($-0.5 billion). The deficit with China decreased $7.1 billion to $32.4 billion as exports were up and imports declined. source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Balance of Trade in the United States averaged -15798.91 USD Million from 1950 until 2021, reaching an all time high of 1946 USD Million in June of 1975 and a record low of -75025 USD Million in March of 2021. 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 - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2021.

Balance of Trade in the United States is expected to be -63000.00 USD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in the United States to stand at -52000.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the United States Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -63000.00 USD Million in 2022 and -55000.00 USD Million in 2023, according to our econometric models.

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United States Balance of Trade

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-68899.00 -75025.00 1946.00 -75025.00 1950 - 2021 USD Million Monthly
SA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2021-03-05 01:30 PM Jan $-68.2B $-67B $-67.5B $-67.5B
2021-04-07 12:30 PM Feb $-71.1B $-67.8B $-70.5B $-69.8B
2021-05-04 12:30 PM Mar $-74.4B $-70.5B $-74.5B $-73.4B
2021-06-08 12:30 PM Apr $-68.9B $-75B $-69B $-69B
2021-07-02 12:30 PM May $-68.9B
2021-08-05 12:30 PM Jun $ -63B
2021-09-02 12:30 PM Jul
2021-10-05 12:30 PM Aug
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
US Trade Gap Falls from Record Levels
The US trade gap narrowed to $68.9 billion in April of 2021 from a record high $75 billion gap in March and in line with market expectations. Exports were up 1.1% to $205 billion, due to civilian aircraft ($1.4 billion), crude oil ($1.0 billion), other petroleum products ($0.6 billion), fuel oil ($0.5 billion), travel ($0.2 billion) and transport ($0.2 billion). Imports dropped 1.4% to $273.9 billion due to other textile apparel and household goods ($-0.9 billion), toys, games, and sporting goods ($-0.7 billion), household appliances ($-0.7 billion), automotive parts and accessories ($-0.7 billion) and passenger cars ($-0.5 billion). The deficit with China decreased $7.1 billion to $32.4 billion as exports were up and imports declined.
2021-06-08
US Posts Largest Trade Gap on Record
The trade deficit in the US widened to a new record of USD 74.4 billion in March 2021, from a revised USD 70.5 billion in the previous month and compared with market expectations of a USD 74.5 billion gap. Imports jumped 6.3 percent to an all-time high as the domestic demand consolidated its recovery amid re-opening efforts. Purchases rose for consumer goods, industrial supplies and materials, capital goods and vehicles, while tourism-related services also saw a solid increase. At the same time, exports rose 6.6 percent to a 13-month high, boosted by sales of industrial supplies and materials, and capital and consumer goods. Exports of services such as travel and transport were also up.
2021-05-04
US Records Highest Trade Deficit on Record
The trade deficit in the US widened for the second month to USD 71.1 billion in February of 2021 from a revised USD 67.8 billion in the previous month, slightly above market expectations of a USD 70.5 billion gap. It is the biggest trade deficit on record as imports fell less than exports, in another sign the American economy recovers faster than its trading partners from the pandemic hit. The goods deficit widened by USD 2.8 billion to USD 88 billion and the services surplus shrank by USD 0.5 billion to USD 16.9 billion. Exports went down 2.6 percent to USD 187.3 billion, mainly due to other industrial machinery, civilian aircraft, semiconductors, foods and beverages, autos and travel services. Imports fell at a slower 0.7 percent to USD 258.3 billion, due to passenger cars and pharmaceutical preparations. The goods deficit widened with China (to USD 30.3 billion) and Canada (to USD 4 billion) but narrowed with Mexico (to USD 6.8 billion).
2021-04-07
US Trade Gap Rises More Than Expected
The trade deficit in the US widened to USD 68.2 billion in January of 2021 from a revised USD 67 billion in the previous month, above market expectations of a USD 67.5 billion gap. Exports went up 1 percent to an 11-month high of USD 191.9 billion, due to industrial supplies and materials such as plastic materials and other petroleum products; and capital goods like civilian aircraft and other industrial machinery. Meantime, imports increased at a faster 1.2 percent to USD 260.2 billion, the highest since August of 2019, led by pharmaceutical preparations and insurance services. The goods gap widened to USD 85.4 billion from USD 84.1 billion while the services surplus rose slightly to USD 17.24 billion from USD 17.16 billion.
2021-03-05

United States Balance of Trade
The United States has been running consistent trade deficits since 1976 due to high imports of oil and consumer products. In 2018, the biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Vietnam and Italy and the biggest trade surpluses with Hong Kong, Netherlands, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Brazil and Panama. China is the top trading partner, accounting for 16 percent of total trade, followed by Canada (15 percent) and Mexico (15 percent).