Top Chinese Exports & Imports

Zinc, nickel, lumber, mining & oil equipment lead China's fastest-growing exports to U.S. while tobacco, corn & precious metals are popular American imports in China.

China exported US$287.8 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 18.2% from 2005 and up an impressive 130% in just 4 years. America is the number one trading partner for China's exports.

Chinese imports from the U.S. rose 31.7% to $55.2 billion in 2006 and up an even more impressive 150% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with China was $232.5 billion in 2006, up 125% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with China increased 15.4% in 2006 – significantly down from the 24.5% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.

China Exports to U.S.

Of the $287.8 billion in American imports from China in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Computer accessories, peripherals and parts …US$28.9 billion (10.1% of China to U.S. exports, up 12.4% from 2005)
2. Miscellaneous household goods (e.g. clocks) … $26.5 billion (9.2%, up 17.2%)
3. Toys & sporting goods (e.g. bicycles) … $22.2 billion (7.7%, up 10.2%)
4. Computers … $17.4 billion (6%, up 20.2%)
5. Non-cotton household furnishings & clothing … $14.6 billion (5.1%, up 11.3%)
6. Video equipment (e.g. DVD players) … $14.5 billion (5.0%, up 34.9%)
7. Household furniture … $13.2 billion (4.6%, up 14.3%)
8. Footwear ... $10.7 billion (3.7%, up 11.1%)
9. Cotton household furnishings & clothing … $9.9 billion (3.4%, up 29.6%)
10. Telecommunications equipment … $8.3 billion (3.0%, up 23.7%)

Fastest-Growing Chinese Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from China in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Zinc … US$8.6 million (up 616% from 2005)
2. Nickel … $25.9 million (up 273%)
3. Lumber … $74.7 million (up 213%)
4. Specialized mining & oil processing equipment … $96.6 million (up 188%)
5. Oil field drilling equipment & platforms … $1.6 billion (up 182%)

China Imports from U.S.

Of the $55.2 billion in American exports to China in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Semi-conductors … US$5.9 billion (10.6% of China from U.S. imports, up 74.7% from 2005)
2. Civilian aircraft … $5.3 billion (9.6%, up 39.7%)
3. Soybeans … $2.5 billion (4.6%, up 12.5%)
4. Plastics …. $2.2 billion (3.9%, up 18.8%)
5. Raw cotton … $2.1 billion (3.7%, up 47%)
6. Industrial machines … $1.97 billion (3.6%, up 29%)
7. Copper … $1.86 billion (3.4%, up 99.7%)
8. Computer accessories … $1.82 billion (3.3%, up 27.5%)
9. Aluminum … $1.7 billion (3.1%, up 90.3%)
10. Steelmaking material … $1.69 billion (3.1%, up 11.9%)

Fastest-Growing Chinese Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to China in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Unmanufactured tobacco … US$61.4 million (up 3127% from 2005)
2. Corn … $22.6 million (up 2963%)
3. Oilseeds & food oils … $60.7 million (up 970%)
4. Precious metals … $305 million (up 205.2%)
5. Railway transportation equipment … $220 million (up 146%)

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.

Yengtse River in China

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