US Trade with Brazil in 2007
Brazilian Exports to America Decline as Imports Gain More Slowly
Brazil’s largest trade partner is the United States of America. About 18% of Brazilian exports are delivered to the U.S. while America products account for some 16% of the largest South American country’s imports.
Those statistics compare favourably with second-place Argentina and third-place China, which consume 8.5% and 6.1% of Brazil’s exports and generate 8.8% and 8.7% of Brazilian imports, respectively.
CIA World Factbook estimates that Brazil's exports represent an estimated US$161 billion worth of goods and services worldwide in 2007. Brazilian imports totalled roughly $191 billion, resulting in a healthy $40-billion overall trade surplus last year.
Brazil's Merchandise Trade with U.S.
A closer look at Brazil’s merchandise-only trade statistics with the United States reveals that Brazil enjoyed a US$1 billion surplus buying and selling products with its American trade partner in 2007. The most recent merchandise surplus statistic represents a 220% increase since 2003 but an 86% decline from the $7.1 billion surplus in 2006.
Brazil's Exports to U.S.
With a population of 192 million, Brazil exported US$25.6 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2007, down 2.8% from 2006 and up 43.1% in 4 years.
- Crude oil …US$3.8 billion – up 33.9% from 2006 (14.7% of Brazil to U.S. exports)
- Complete civilian aircraft … $1.7 billion – up 43.2% (6.5%)
- Unmanufactured steelmaking materials … $1.5 billion – up 4.2% (5.8%)
- Semi-finished iron and steel mill products … $1.2 billion – down 9.7% (4.9%)
- Other vehicle parts and accessories … $791 million – down 18.3% (3.1%)
- Footwear … $764.1 million – down 15.4% (3%)
- Finished molding, shingles and wallboard … $706.4 million – down 17.8% (2.8%)
- Vehicle engines and parts … $702.3 million – down 34.2% (2.7%)
- Cement, lime, sand and stone … $690 million – up 3.6% (2.7%)
- Other petroleum products … $685.4 million – up 24.7% (2.7%).
In aggregate, Brazil’s top 10 exported product categories increased their sales to the U.S. by about 6% from 2006. This contrasts with a 12% rise for the top 10 Brazilian exports to the U.S. from 2005 to 2006.
Fastest-Growing Brazilian Exports to U.S.
Below are selected Brazilian exports to America in 2007 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.
- Tin … US$34.1 million (up 195% from 2006)
- Industrial inorganic chemicals … $205.4 million (up 161%)
- Pleasure boats and motors … $17.7 million (up 151%)
- Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $8.4 million (up 133%)
- Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical products … $26.3 million (up 111%).
Fastest-Declining Brazilian Exports to U.S.
Selected Brazilian exports to America in 2007 with the highest percentage sales decreases from 2006 are listed below.
- Zinc … US$4.3 million (down 81% from 2006)
- New and used passenger cars … $37.1 million (down 78%)
- Coal and related fuels … $9.3 million (down 72%)
- Nonmonetary gold … $50.3 million (down 61%)
- Nonagricultural foods and additives … $3.5 million (down 55%).
Brazilian Imports from U.S.
Brazilian imports from the U.S. rose 28.1% to $24.6 billion in 2007, up 220% since 2003.
Of American exports to Brazil in 2007, the following product categories had the highest values.
- Computer accessories … US$1.7 billion – down 0.5% from 2006 (6.9% of imports from U.S.)
- Civilian aircraft engines … $1.67 billion – up 41.1% (6.8%)
- Civilian aircraft parts … $1.63 billion – up 36.5% (6.6%)
- Complete civilian aircraft … $1.62 billion – up 52.6% (6.6%)
- Organic chemicals … $1.58 billion – up 38.5% (6.4%)
- Plastic materials … $1.07 billion – up 42.4% (4.3%)
- Drilling and oilfield equipment … $956.7 million – up 7% (3.9%)
- Chemical fertilizers … $951.8 million – up 63.6% (3.9%)
- Telecommunications equipment … $710 million – up 33.3% (2.9%)
- Semiconductors … $634.3 million – down 8.5% (2.6%).
Brazil’s top 10 import product categories from the U.S. grew by about 29% from 2006. From 2005 to 2006, the top 10 Brazilian imports from the U.S. had gained 37%.
Fastest-Growing Brazilian Imports from U.S.
Below are selected American exports to Brazil in 2007 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.
- Wheat … US$90.8 million (up 2,845% from 2006)
- Fish … $13.5 million (up 304%)
- Aircraft launching gear … $4.1 million (up 287%)
- Other commercial vessels … $6.3 million (up 241%)
- Business machines and equipment … $326.7 million (up 230%).
Fastest-Declining Brazilian Imports from U.S.
Selected American exports to Brazil in 2007 with the highest percentage sales decreases from 2006 are listed below.
- Parts for military-type goods … US$30.5 million (down 72.1% in 2006)
- Fuel oil … $45.7 million (down 61.7%)
- Military aircraft engines and turbines … $17.2 million (down 55%)
- Passenger car bodies and chassis … $1.9 million (down 53%)
- Coal and related fuels … $9.5 million (down 38.7%).
Sources for this Article
This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.
