United States Balance of Trade  1950-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar

The US trade deficit narrowed to USD 49 billion in March of 2018 from a slightly upwardly revised USD 57.7 billion in the previous month which was the highest since October 2008. Figures came better than market expectations of a USD 50 billion gap as exports reached a record high boosted by sales of commercial aircraft and soybeans. Also, imports fell as payments for the rights to broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympic Games faded. Balance of Trade in the United States averaged -14230.78 USD Million from 1950 until 2018, 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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US Trade Gap Lower than Expected


The US trade deficit narrowed to USD 49 billion in March of 2018 from a slightly upwardly revised USD 57.7 billion in the previous month which was the highest since October 2008. Figures came better than market expectations of a USD 50 billion gap as exports reached a record high boosted by sales of commercial aircraft and soybeans. Also, imports fell as payments for the rights to broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympic Games faded.

The March decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of USD 7.5 billion to USD 69.5 billion and an increase in the services surplus of USD 1.3 billion to USD 20.5 billion. 

Total exports jumped 2 percent month-over-month to a record high value of USD 208.53 billion. Exports of goods increased USD 3.7 billion to USD 140.9 billion, boosted by shipments of civilian aircraft (USD 1.9 billion); soybeans (USD 0.5 billion); corn (USD 0.3 billion); crude oil (USD 0.4 billion); and other petroleum products (USD 0.3 billion). Exports of services rose USD 0.4 billion to USD 67.6 billion boosted by sales of maintenance and repair services (USD 0.1 billion); travel (USD 0.1 billion); and transport (USD 0.1 billion).

Total imports declined 1.8 percent month-over-month to USD 257.48 billion. Imports of goods decreased USD 3.7 billion to USD 210.4 billion, mainly due to computer accessories (USD -0.5 billion); telecommunications equipment (USD -0.5 billion); semiconductors (USD -0.5 billion); toys, games, and sporting goods (USD -0.7 billion); televisions and video equipment (USD -0.7 billion); and crude oil (USD -0.5 billion). Imports of services decreased USD 0.9 billion to USD 47.1 billion in March. Purchases went down mainly for charges for the use of intellectual property (USD -0.9 billion). Charges for February included payments for the rights to broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympic Games; and transport (USD -0.1 billion).

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, exports went up to OPEC (26.6 percent); China (26.3 percent); Japan (22.3 percent); the EU (19.5 percent); Canada (15.3 percent); Brazil (12.3 percent); and Mexico (8.3 percent). Imports rose from Brazil (19.8 percent); Japan (19.1 percent); Mexico (14 percent); the EU (13.4 percent); Canada (12 percent); and the OPEC (9.1 percent) but fell 2.1 percent from China. 

The trade deficit worsened with the EU (USD -12.15 billion from USD -12.05 billion); Mexico (USD -8 billion from USD -6 billion) and Japan (USD -6.38 billion from USD -5.5 billion) but narrowed with China (USD -25.87 billion from USD -29.26 billion) and the OPEC (USD -0.76 billion from USD -1.37 billion). The trade balance with Canada switched to a USD 0.31 billion surplus from a USD 0.41 billion gap. 

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased USd 25.5 billion, or 18.5 percent, from the same period in 2017. Exports rose USD 39.2 billion or 6.8 percent. Imports went up USD 64.7 billion or 9.1 percent.


BEA | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com
5/3/2018 1:23:09 PM


Recent Releases

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Published on 2018-04-05

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Published on 2018-03-07

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The trade deficit in the US widened to USD 50.5 billion in November of 2017 from an upwardly revised USD 48.9 billion in October. It is the biggest trade gap since January of 2012 as imports reached a record high on rising demand for consumer goods, cell phones, crude oil and semiconductors. Exports recovered form October's fall and touched a record value on higher sales of capital goods, aircraft and cars.
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-03-07 01:30 PM Balance of Trade $-56.6B $-53.9B $-55.1B $ -52.8B
2018-04-05 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-57.6B $-56.7B $-56.9B $ -58.9B
2018-05-03 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-49B $-57.7B $-50B $ -57.8B
2018-06-06 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-49B $ -50B
2018-07-06 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $ -48B
2018-08-03 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $ -48B


United States Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade -48956.00 -57743.00 1946.00 -67823.00 USD Million [+]
Exports 208526.00 204351.00 208526.00 772.00 USD Million [+]
Imports 257482.00 262094.00 262094.00 577.00 USD Million [+]
Current Account -128158.00 -101475.00 9957.00 -215769.00 USD Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -2.40 -2.40 0.20 -6.00 percent [+]
External Debt -7845809.00 -7768745.00 -1232107.00 -8217356.00 USD Million [+]
Terms of Trade 98.39 99.85 168.28 91.82 Index Points [+]
Capital Flows -38500.00 122638.00 272938.00 -193364.00 USD Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 46429.00 42627.00 47465.00 -9988.00 USD Million [+]
Net Long Term Tic Flows 61838.00 48969.00 157830.00 -72882.00 USD Million [+]
Gold Reserves 8134.00 8133.46 8149.05 8133.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 10264.00 9964.00 10264.00 3971.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 5.43 4.88 7.39 3.70 [+]
Tourism Revenues 20649.00 20416.00 21223.00 6496.00 USD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 6145476.00 7750318.00 8364940.00 2095665.00 [+]
Weapons Sales 12394.00 10304.00 16071.00 1769.00 USD Million [+]

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



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 2017, the biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Mexico, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, Ireland and Italy and the biggest trade surpluses with Hong Kong, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Australia, Singapore and Brazil. Mexico is the United States' 2nd largest export market and the 3rd largest supplier of imports. 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 May of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-48956.00 -57743.00 1946.00 -67823.00 1950 - 2018 USD Million Monthly
SA




balance of trade by Country
Country Last
Australia 1527.00 Mar/18
Brazil 6140.00 Apr/18
Canada -4139.60 Mar/18
China 287.80 Apr/18
Euro Area 26932.60 Mar/18
France -5258.00 Mar/18
Germany 25187.00 Mar/18
India -13720.00 Apr/18
Indonesia -1629.30 Apr/18
Italy 4531.06 Mar/18
Japan 625.98 Apr/18
Mexico 1917.55 Mar/18
Netherlands 5280.00 Mar/18
Russia 15001.00 Mar/18
South Korea 6611.00 Apr/18
Spain -830631.00 Mar/18
Switzerland 2315.30 Mar/18
Turkey -5855.00 Mar/18
United Kingdom -3091.00 Mar/18
United States -48956.00 Mar/18


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