Chemical & Engineering News
June 23, 1997
Copyright © 1997 by the American Chemical Society
FOREIGN TRADE
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U.S. TOTAL TRADE BALANCE: Growth of exports shaded imports, but the deficit widened
| $ Billions | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | % change 1995-96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total exports | $439.2 | $512.4 | $584.7 | $624.8 | 7% |
| Total imports | 579.9 | 663.8 | 743.4 | 791.4 | 6 |
| Trade balance | -140.7 | -151.4 | -158.7 | -166.6 | 5 |
Source: Department of Commerce
U.S.CHEMICAL TRADE: Surplus declined as imports surged 11%
| $ Billions | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | % change 1995-96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical exports | $45.1 | $51.6 | $60.8 | $62.9 | 3% |
| Chemical imports | 28.5 | 33.9 | 40.4 | 44.9 | 11 |
| Chemical trade balance | 16.6 | 17.7 | 20.4 | 18.1 | -11 |
Source: Department of Commerce
U.S. TOTAL EXPORTS: Chemicals had largest trade surplus of any category
| U.S. exports | U.S. imports | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ Billions | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| Machinery & transport equipment | $209.0 | $232.5 | $257.8 | $278.7 | $260.0 | $308.2 | $350.6 | $362.8 |
| Miscellaneous manufactures | 50.6 | 55.9 | 61.7 | 67.3 | 104.5 | 113.9 | 123.8 | 131.6 |
| Chemicals | 45.1 | 51.6 | 60.8 | 62.9 | 28.5 | 33.9 | 40.4 | 44.9 |
| Manufactured goods classified by material | 36.6 | 40.9 | 49.9 | 51.9 | 66.2 | 78.8 | 89.4 | 91.6 |
| Food & live animals | 32.8 | 34.3 | 40.9 | 44.5 | 23.0 | 25.5 | 27.2 | 28.9 |
| Crude materials, inedible except fuels | 24.3 | 27.0 | 34.5 | 31.9 | 15.4 | 17.7 | 20.7 | 21.3 |
| Mineral fuels & lubricants | 9.7 | 8.9 | 10.4 | 12.1 | 55.6 | 56.4 | 59.1 | 73.0 |
| Beverages & tobacco | 6.5 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 6.6 |
| Animal & vegetable oils, fats & waxes | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Other | 23.1 | 21.0 | 21.5 | 25.3 | 20.2 | 23.0 | 25.4 | 28.9 |
| TOTAL | $439.2a | $512.4a | $584.7a | $624.8a | $579.9 | $663.8 | $743.4 | $791.4 |
a Includes reexported imports not included in individual categories. Source: Bureau of the Census
U.S. CHEMICAL TRADE: European, Asian, African imports surged in 1996
