U.S. ports plan to trade with Cuba once embargo lifted

TRADE SPOTLIGHT: RELEASE OF ANNUAL 2008 FIGURES

The largest export markets for U.S. goods in 2008 (with percent increase over 2007) were Canada ($261.4 billion, up 5.0%), Mexico ($151.5 billion, up 11.4%), China ($71.5 billion, up 9.5%), Japan ($66.6 billion, up 6.2%), and Germany ($54.7 billion, up 10.2%).

Capital goods represent the largest goods export category (end-use) for the U.S. with $469.5 billion worth of exports in 2008. The U.S. trade surplus in capital goods rose $12.8 billion to reach $15.7 billion in 2008, up from a surplus of $2.9 billion in 2007.

The top growth categories for capital goods products in 2008 were medicinal equipment (up $3.3 billion), materials handling equipment (up $2.7 billion), industrial engines (up $2.7 billion), telecommunications equipment (up $2.6 billion), and civilian aircraft engines (up $2.5 billion).

Industrial supplies the largest growth category in dollar value represented $387.3 billion of U.S. exports in 2008, up $70.9 billion (or 22.4 percent) from 2007.

The top growth categories for industrial supplies in 2008 were fuel oil (up $19.3 billion), other petroleum products (up $8.5 billion), nonmonetary gold (up $5.4 billion), chemicals-fertilizers (up $4.5 billion), and steelmaking materials (up $4.3 billion).

Foods, feeds, and beverages represented $108.4 billion of U.S. exports in 2008, and was the second largest export growth category (end-use) for the U.S., with exports rising $24.2 billion (or 28.7 percent) over 2007. The U.S. trade surplus in foods, feeds, and beverages rose $16.8 billion to reach $19.4 billion in 2008, up from a surplus of $2.6 billion in 2007.

The top growth categories for foods, feeds, and beverages in 2008 were soybeans (up $5.6 billion), meat and poultry (up $3.7 billion), corn (up $3.4 billion), and wheat (up $3.0 billion).