U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
NEWS
U.S. Department of Commerce * Washington, DC 20230
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES
MAY 2011
Goods and Services
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department
of Commerce, announced today that total May exports of $174.9 billion and imports of
$225.1 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $50.2 billion, up from $43.6
billion in April, revised. May exports were $1.0 billion less than April exports of
$175.8 billion. May imports were $5.6 billion more than April imports of $219.4 billion.
In May, the goods deficit increased $6.7 billion from April to $64.9 billion, and the
services surplus increased $0.1 billion to $14.7 billion. Exports of goods decreased
$1.4 billion to $125.1 billion, and imports of goods increased $5.3 billion to $190.0
billion. Exports of services increased $0.4 billion to $49.7 billion, and imports of
services increased $0.3 billion to $35.1 billion.
The goods and services deficit increased $8.1 billion from May 2010 to May 2011. Exports
were up $22.8 billion, or 15.0 percent, and imports were up $30.8 billion, or 15.9
percent.
Goods (Census Basis)
The April to May decrease in exports of goods reflected decreases in industrial supplies
and materials ($1.8 billion); consumer goods ($0.4 billion); and foods, feeds, and
beverages ($0.1 billion). Increases occurred in capital goods ($0.4 billion); other goods
($0.3 billion); and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.2 billion).
The April to May increase in imports of goods reflected increases in industrial supplies
and materials ($4.3 billion); capital goods ($1.2 billion); automotive vehicles, parts,
and engines ($0.6 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion). Decreases
occurred in consumer goods ($0.9 billion) and other goods ($0.3 billion).
The May 2010 to May 2011 increase in exports of goods reflected increases in industrial
supplies and materials ($8.7 billion); capital goods ($3.8 billion); foods, feeds, and
beverages ($2.7 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($1.5 billion);
consumer goods ($0.7 billion); and other goods ($0.5 billion).
The May 2010 to May 2011 increase in imports of goods reflected increases in industrial
supplies and materials ($17.0 billion); capital goods ($5.6 billion); consumer goods
($3.1 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages ($1.4 billion); other goods ($0.6 billion);
and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.5 billion).
Services
Services exports increased $0.4 billion from April to May. The increase was mostly
accounted for by increases in other private services (which includes items such as
business, professional, and technical services, insurance services, and financial
services), passenger fares, travel, and other transportation (which includes freight and
port services). Changes in the other categories of services exports were small.
Services imports increased $0.3 billion from April to May. The increase was mostly
accounted for by increases in other private services, passenger fares, and other
transportation. Changes in the other categories of services imports were small.
The May 2010 to May 2011 increase in exports of services was $4.3 billion. The largest
increases were in other private services ($2.4 billion) and travel ($1.0 billion).
Within other private services, the largest increases were in business, professional, and
technical services and financial services.
The May 2010 to May 2011 increase in imports of services was $1.8 billion. The largest
increases were in other private services ($0.6 billion) and other transportation
($0.3 billion). Within other private services, the largest increases were in business,
professional, and technical services and financial services.
Goods and Services Moving Average
For the three months ending in May, exports of goods and services averaged $174.7
billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $221.6 billion, resulting in an
average trade deficit of $46.9 billion. For the three months ending in April, the
average trade deficit was $45.5 billion, reflecting average exports of $171.5 billion and
average imports of $217.0 billion.
Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details
The May figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Hong Kong $2.1 ($2.6 for
April), Australia $1.2 ($1.1), Singapore $0.8 ($1.2), and Egypt $0.4 ($0.5). Deficits
were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China $25.0 ($21.6), OPEC $11.3 ($9.6),
European Union $8.8 ($7.5), Mexico $6.3 ($5.5), Germany $3.8 ($3.8), Venezuela $3.1
($2.8), Canada $2.7 ($2.4), Japan $2.6 ($3.6), Ireland $2.4 ($3.0), Nigeria $2.3 ($2.5),
Taiwan $1.5 ($1.2), and Korea $1.3 ($1.0).
Advanced technology products exports were $23.3 billion in May and imports were $31.2
billion, resulting in a deficit of $7.9 billion. May exports were $0.3 billion more than
the $23.0 billion in April, while May imports were $1.2 billion more than the $30.1
billion in April.
Revisions
For April goods on a Census basis, not seasonally adjusted, exports were revised up $0.1
billion and imports were revised up $0.1 billion. Goods carry-over in May was $0.1
billion (0.1 percent) for exports and $0.7 billion (0.4 percent) for imports. For April,
revised export carry-over was virtually zero. For April, revised import carry-over was
0.1 billion (0.0 percent), revised down from $0.6 billion (0.3 percent).
For April goods on a balance of payment basis, exports were revised up $0.1 billion and
imports were revised up $0.2 billion.
Services exports for April were revised up $0.2 billion to $49.3 billion, mostly
reflecting an upward revision in travel. Services imports were revised up $0.1 billion to
$34.7 billion, mostly reflecting an upward revision in travel.
NOTICE
Changes to Countries
Effective with this release, the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report is
revised to reflect changes to Netherlands Antilles. The new countries are listed
individually in exhibit 6 of the FT-900 supplement and added to the South/Central America
country grouping in exhibit 14 of the FT-900 and exhibit 6 of the FT-900 supplement.
Removed
-Netherlands Antilles
Added
-Curacao
-Sint Maarten
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Data
Dissemination Branch office on (301) 763-2311 or email at ftd.data.dissemination@census.gov.