U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Highlights

June 4, 2013

Goods and Services Deficit Increases in April 2013

The Nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $40.3 billion in April from $37.1 billion (revised) in March, as imports increased more than exports.

Goods and Services

• Exports increased to $187.4 billion in April from $185.2 billion in March (revised). Goods were $131.1 billion in April, up from $129.3 billion in March. Services were $56.3 billion in April, up from $55.9 billion in March.

• Imports increased to $227.7 billion in April from $222.3 billion in March (revised). Goods were $189.7 billion in April, up from $184.7 billion in March. Services were $38.0 billion in April, up from $37.7 billion in March.

• For goods, the deficit was $58.6 billion in April, up from $55.4 billion in March (revised). For services, the surplus increased $0.1 billion from March (revised) to $18.3 billion.

Goods by Category (Census basis)

• The March to April increase in exports of goods reflected increases in consumer goods ($2.0 billion); capital goods ($0.9 billion); and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.6 billion).  Decreases occurred in industrial supplies and materials ($0.9 billion); other goods ($0.5 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.3 billion).

• The March to April increase in imports of goods reflected increases in consumer goods ($3.0 billion);automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($1.3 billion); capital goods ($1.0 billion); and other goods ($0.2 billion).   Decreases occurred in industrial supplies and materials ($0.3 billion) and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion).

Services by Category

• Exports of services increased $0.4 billion from March to April.  The increase was more than accounted for by increases in other private services ($0.2 billion),which includes items such as business, professional, and technical services, insurance services, and financial services, in travel ($0.1 billion), and in other transportation ($0.1 billion), which includes freight and port services.  A decrease in passenger fares ($0.1 billion) partly offset these increases.  Changes in the other categories of services exports were relatively small.

• Imports of services increased $0.3 billion from March to April.  The increase was mostly accounted for by increases in other transportation ($0.2 billion) and in travel ($0.1 billion).  Changes in the other categories of services imports were relatively small.

Goods by Geographic Area (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

• The goods deficit with the European Union increased from $9.9 billion in March to $12.4 billion in April.  Exports decreased $1.8 billion (primarily medicinal equipment and nonmonetary gold) to $21.1 billion, while imports increased $0.7 billion (primarily pharmaceutical preparations) to $33.6 billion.

• The goods deficit with China increased from $17.9 billion in March to $24.1 billion in April.  Exports decreased $0.4 billion (primarily soybeans, tobacco, and cotton) to $9.0 billion, while imports increased $5.8 billion (primarily cell phones and other household goods) to $33.1 billion.

• The goods deficit with Mexico decreased from $5.3 billion in March to $4.4 billion in April.  Exports increased $1.9 billion (primarily civilian aircraft, engines, and parts and electric apparatus) to $19.9 billion, while imports increased $1.1 billion (primarily crude oil) to $24.3 billion.

Notice: Beginning with May statistics the layout of this document will be updated to incorporate further visualizations of the goods and services data. For additional information, please contact Maria Iseman using the information below.

This and more information is provided in the Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Economic Analysis press release:

U.S.International Trade in Goods and Services: April 2013 .

For further information on goods, contact Maria Iseman, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau, on (301) 763-2311; on services, contact Edward Dozier, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, on (202) 606-9559.

NOTE: Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis. For information on data sources and definitions, see the information section on page A-1 of the FT-900 release, or at www.census.gov/ft900 or www.bea.gov/bea/di/home/trade.htm.

The next release is July 3, 2013

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Note: Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis. For information on data sources and definitions, see the Information Section (PDF, 53k) (TXT, 23k)

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Related sites:

• U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis