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

The US trade deficit widened by 9.5 percent to USD 50.1 billion in July of 2018 from a downwardly revised USD 45.7 billion in the previous month and slightly below market expectations of USD 50.3 billion. It is the highest trade gap in five months as imports hit a new record high and exports of soybeans and civilian aircraft fell sharply. According to unadjusted data, the goods trade deficit with China rose 10 percent to a record of USD 36.8 billion. Balance of Trade in the United States averaged -14349.22 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 Rises The Most in 3 Years


The US trade deficit widened by 9.5 percent to USD 50.1 billion in July of 2018 from a downwardly revised USD 45.7 billion in the previous month and slightly below market expectations of USD 50.3 billion. It is the highest trade gap in five months as imports hit a new record high and exports of soybeans and civilian aircraft fell sharply.

Total exports slumped 1 percent month-over-month to USD 211.08 billion, following a 0.7 percent drop in June. Exports of goods decreased USD 2.3 billion to USD 140.8 billion, mainly due to lower sales of capital goods (USD -0.9 billion); civilian aircraft (USD -1.6 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages (USD -0.9 billion); soybeans (USD -0.7 billion); other goods (USD -0.5 billion). On the other hand, exports of services increased USD 0.2 billion to USD 70.3 billion: charges for the use of intellectual property rose USD 0.1 billion; other business services, which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related, and other services, went up USD 0.1 billion.

Total imports increased 0.9 percent month-over-month to a record high value of USD 261.16, after rising 0.7 percent in June. Imports of goods went up USD 1.9 billion to USD 213.9 billion, boosted by purchases of capital goods (USD 0.7 billion); computers increased (USD 0.5 billion); computer accessories (USD 0.3 billion); other goods increased (USD 0.7 billion); industrial supplies and materials (USD 0.5 billion); fuel oil (USD 0.3 billion); crude oil (USD 0.3 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines (USD 0.5 billion). On the other hand, imports fell for consumer goods (USD -0.8 billion); pharmaceutical preparations (USD -1.3 billion). Imports of services increased USD 0.3 billion to USD 47.2 billion: travel (for all purposes including education) increased USD 0.2 billion and other business services went up USD 0.1 billion.

According to unadjusted data, exports fell to China (-7.7 percent); Canada (-10 percent), the EU (-15.7 percent) and OPEC (-16.6 percent) but rose to Mexico (2.2 percent) and Japan (1.9 percent). Imports increased from all major partners: China (+5.6 percent); the EU (3.5 percent); Japan (2.4 percent) and OPEC (11.5 percent) while it declined from Mexico (-4.7 percent) and Canada (-5.2 percent):

The goods trade deficit with China rose 10 percent to a record of USD 36.8 billion. The trade deficit also increased with the EU (+50 percent to a record of USD 17.89 billion), Japan (+2.9 percent to USD 5.46 billion), OPEC (+90 percent to USD 3.45 billion) and Canada (+57.6 billion to USD 3.15 billion) but fell with Mexico (-25 percent to USD 5.54 billion). 

Considering the first seven months of the year, the goods and services deficit increased 7 percent, with exports rising 8.6 percent and imports 8.3 percent. The US trade deficit increased with all main trading partners except Canada (-3.6 percent to USD 11.18 billion): China (+8.7 percent to USD 222.566); the EU (+14.1 percent to USD 95.15 billion); Mexico (+6.5 percent to USD 43.58 bilion); Japan (+1 percent to USD 40.09 billion) and OPEC (+49.7 percent to USD 14.36 billion). 


BEA | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com
9/5/2018 2:02:29 PM


Recent Releases

US Trade Deficit Widens Sharply in June
The US trade deficit widened 7.3 percent to USD 46.3 billion in June 2018 from a revised USD 43.2 billion in the previous month and below market expectations of USD 46.5 billion.
Published on 2018-08-03

US May Trade Deficit Smallest in 1-1/2 Years
The US trade deficit narrowed sharply to USD 43.1 billion in May 2018 from a revised USD 46.1 billion in the previous month and below market expectations of USD 43.7 billion. It was the smallest trade gap since October 2016.
Published on 2018-07-06

US Trade Gap at 7-Month Low
The US trade deficit narrowed to USD 46.2 billion in April of 2018 from a downwardly revised USD 47.2 billion in March, below market expectations of a USD 49 billion gap. It is the lowest trade deficit in seven months as exports hit a record high boosted by sales of industrial materials and soybeans. Imports edged down 0.2 percent.
Published on 2018-06-06

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.
Published on 2018-05-03



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-07-06 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-43.1B $-46.1B $-43.7B $ -45.5B
2018-08-03 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-46.3B $-43.2B $-46.5B $ -41B
2018-09-05 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-50.1B $-45.7B $-50.3B $ -44.8B
2018-10-05 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $-50.1B $ -50.3B
2018-11-02 12:30 PM Balance of Trade $ -51.4B
2018-12-06 01:30 PM Balance of Trade $ -53.1B


United States Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade -50082.00 -45739.00 1946.00 -67823.00 USD Million [+]
Exports 211077.00 213195.00 214668.00 772.00 USD Million [+]
Imports 261159.00 258934.00 261159.00 577.00 USD Million [+]
Current Account -101460.00 -121710.00 9957.00 -215769.00 USD Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -2.40 -2.40 0.20 -6.00 percent [+]
External Debt 19180854.00 19019303.00 19180854.00 6570168.00 USD Million [+]
Terms of Trade 106.98 98.39 168.28 91.82 Index Points [+]
Capital Flows 52174.00 189669.00 272938.00 -193364.00 USD Million [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 47253.00 45701.00 48155.00 -9988.00 USD Million [+]
Net Long Term Tic Flows 74804.00 -36459.00 157830.00 -72882.00 USD Million [+]
Gold Reserves 8134.00 8134.00 8149.05 8133.46 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 10674.00 10442.00 10674.00 3971.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 5.43 4.88 7.39 3.70 [+]
Tourism Revenues 21491.00 21434.00 21502.00 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 September of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-50082.00 -45739.00 1946.00 -67823.00 1950 - 2018 USD Million Monthly
SA




balance of trade by Country
Country Last
Argentina -789.00 Jul/18
Australia 1551.00 Jul/18
Brazil 3774.99 Aug/18
Canada -114.30 Jul/18
China 279.10 Aug/18
Euro Area 17555.60 Jul/18
France -3490.00 Jul/18
Germany 16461.00 Jul/18
India -17390.00 Aug/18
Indonesia -1021.40 Aug/18
Italy 5676.00 Jul/18
Japan -444.59 Aug/18
Mexico -2889.20 Jul/18
Netherlands 4612.00 Jul/18
Russia 13402.00 Jul/18
Saudi Arabia 120299.00 Mar/18
Singapore 6755.10 Aug/18
South Africa -4657.00 Jul/18
South Korea 6900.00 Aug/18
Spain -3247700.00 Jul/18
Switzerland 1407.94 Aug/18
Turkey -5980.00 Jul/18
United Kingdom -111.00 Jul/18
United States -50082.00 Jul/18


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