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Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

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Table SSA.1 Sub-Saharan Africa: U.S. total exports, general imports, and merchandise trade balance, by major industry/commodity sectors, 2012–16

 
Million $
  
            Absolute change,
Percent change,
Item 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2015-16 2015-16
U.S. total exports:              
    Agricultural products 2,685 2,646 2,324 1,781 1,692 -89 -5.0
    Forest products 287 274 309 247 197 -49 -20.0
    Chemicals and related products 2,119 2,137 2,121 2,008 1,624 -384 -19.1
    Energy-related products 2,034 3,601 4,009 1,560 968 -593 -38.0
    Textiles and apparel 296 300 299 252 200 -51 -20.4
    Footwear 31 28 30 23 18 -5 -22.8
    Minerals and metals 1,624 2,109 1,366 986 624 -361 -36.7
    Machinery 2,528 2,547 2,819 2,408 1,849 -559 -23.2
    Transportation equipment 8,283 7,657 9,483 6,463 4,334 -2,128 -32.9
    Electronic products 1,621 1,655 1,720 1,385 1,265 -120 -8.7
    Miscellaneous manufactures 274 265 288 295 226 -69 -23.5
    Special provisions 721 759 724 604 604 (a) (b)
        Total 22,503 23,978 25,493 18,011 13,601 -4,409 -24.5
U.S. general imports:              
    Agricultural products 1,925 1,980 2,260 2,319 2,518 200 8.6
    Forest products 121 135 152 151 121 -30 -19.8
    Chemicals and related products 1,268 1,155 1,137 973 812 -160 -16.5
    Energy-related products 36,759 26,331 13,334 6,588 8,095 1,507 22.9
    Textiles and apparel 891 966 1,050 1,044 1,056 12 1.2
    Footwear 9 21 22 22 25 3 14.1
    Minerals and metals 5,528 5,355 6,207 4,774 4,573 -201 -4.2
    Machinery 364 344 379 448 385 -64 -14.2
    Transportation equipment 2,152 2,379 1,514 1,645 1,729 84 5.1
    Electronic products 101 116 104 89 105 16 17.5
    Miscellaneous manufactures 194 223 235 247 312 65 26.4
    Special provisions 314 289 393 542 401 -141 -25.9
        Total 22,503 23,978 25,493 18,011 13,601 -4,409 -24.5
U.S. merchandise trade balance:              
    Agricultural products 760 666 64 -538 -827 -289 -53.7
    Forest products 166 140 158 96 77 -20 -20.4
    Chemicals and related products 851 982 985 1,036 812 -224 -21.6
    Energy-related products -34,725 -22,730 -9,325 -5,028 -7,127 -2,100 -41.8
    Textiles and apparel -595 -665 -750 -792 -855 -64 -8.0
    Footwear 22 7 8 1 -7 -8 (c)
    Minerals and metals -3,903 -3,246 -4,840 -3,788 -3,949 -160 -4.2
    Machinery 2,164 2,203 2,440 1,959 1,465 -495 -25.2
    Transportation equipment 6,131 5,278 7,970 4,817 2,605 -2,213 -45.9
    Electronic products 1,521 1,538 1,616 1,296 1,160 -136 -10.5
    Miscellaneous manufactures 81 43 53 48 -86 -134 (c)
    Special provisions 407 470 331 62 203 141 225.7
        Total 22,503 23,978 25,493 18,011 13,601 -4,409 -24.5

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. These reflect all official revisions of previously published data up to June 2016 (accessed July 14, 2017).

Note: Import values are based on customs value; export values are based on free along ship value, U.S. port of export. Calculations based on unrounded data. Sectors are ordered by the level of processing of the products classified within each sector.

aLess than $500,000.
bLess than 0.05 percent.
cNot meaningful for purposes of comparison.

Table SSA.2 Sub-Saharan Africa: Leading changes in U.S. exports and imports, 2012–16

 
Million $
  
USITC code and industry/commodity group
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Absolute change,
2015–16
Percent
change,
2015–16
U.S. total exports:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Increases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        TE014        Ships, tugs, pleasure boats, and similar vessels
132
103
248
129
255
126
97.0
        MT023      Electric motors, generators, and related equipment
255
205
195
203
305
102
50.1
        EP004        Crude petroleum
0
0
0
0
68
68
(a)
        AG019       Prepared or preserved vegetables, mushrooms, and olives
96
117
95
102
149
46
45.3
        TE001        Aircraft engines and gas turbines
167
142
176
125
166
41
33.2
        CH025       Polyethylene resins in primary forms
125
144
108
125
152
27
21.7
        MT029      Nonautomotive insulated electrical wire and related products
45
67
75
82
106
24
28.7
        AG050       Ethyl alcohol for nonbeverage purposes
40
11
37
11
34
23
210.9
        EL022        Medical goods
238
231
235
218
240
22
10.1
        MT022      Boilers, turbines, and related machinery
13
40
12
17
39
22
127.4
        MM009     Cement, stone, and related products
47
32
40
38
51
13
35.2
        MM020     Precious metals and non-numismatic coins
571
991
55
2
15
12
491.8
        EL006        Radio and television broadcasting equipment
21
20
15
8
17
9
103.8
        MM010     Industrial ceramics
38
36
56
42
49
6
15.2
        EL013        Parts of circuit apparatus
11
14
14
12
18
6
48.8
        CH009       Chlor-alkali chemicals
38
32
29
34
40
6
16.8
        AG015D    Grain seeds
12
18
11
10
15
6
58.1
        AG015       Seeds
30
42
34
31
36
6
18.1
        MS013      Toys and games
37
55
52
47
51
5
10.0
        MM025C   Bars, rods, and light shapes of carbon and alloy steels
57
16
8
3
8
5
153.1
        FP013        Printing and writing papers
11
18
21
5
9
4
91.3
        MT016      Machine tool accessories
7
6
6
3
7
4
127.2
        MT013      Textile machinery
21
23
22
24
28
4
16.5
        MT006      Wrapping, packaging, and can-sealing machinery
13
11
9
6
10
4
55.1
        CH026       Polypropylene resins in primary forms
5
2
2
3
6
3
121.9
        AG029       Spices
2
2
3
2
5
3
181.6
        EL019        Optical fibers, optical fiber bundles and cables
11
10
12
8
11
3
34.0
        EL004        Blank and prerecorded media
26
25
39
16
18
2
15.6
        MM024A   Abrasive products
4
3
3
3
5
2
79.6
        MM025G  Plates, sheets, and strips of stainless steels
2
2
1
2
4
2
114.2
    Decreases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        TE013        Aircraft, spacecraft, and related equipment
2,099
1,341
3,739
2,604
1,764
-839
-32.2
        TE009        Motor vehicles
2,593
2,555
2,330
1,402
835
-567
-40.5
        EP005        Petroleum products
1,886
3,452
3,696
1,277
711
-566
-44.3
        TE004        Construction and mining equipment
2,214
2,437
1,783
1,005
504
-501
-49.9
        MT020      Taps, cocks, valves, and similar devices
259
303
401
452
229
-222
-49.2
        TE008        Rail locomotive and rolling stock
191
145
260
280
98
-181
-64.8
        MM025L   Pipes and tubes of carbon and alloy steels
226
229
274
196
34
-162
-82.7
        MM025     Steel mill products
308
284
321
218
59
-159
-73.0
        MT030      Miscellaneous machinery
360
427
487
330
188
-143
-43.2
        TE010        Certain motor-vehicle parts
500
387
406
420
339
-82
-19.4
        CH019       Medicinal chemicals
357
413
418
353
277
-76
-21.6
        CH007       Miscellaneous inorganic chemicals
131
159
170
171
103
-68
-39.6
        MT009      Farm and garden machinery and equipment
518
393
348
261
196
-80
-24.8
        EP006        Natural gas and components
15
31
234
214
151
-63
-29.4
        MM031     Miscellaneous products of base metal
118
128
222
153
95
-58
-37.8
        MT001      Pumps for liquids
150
172
192
162
106
-56
-34.8
        AG030       Cereals
1,393
1,305
1,008
757
703
-54
-7.1
        TE002        Internal combustion piston engines, other than for aircraft
208
171
187
200
147
-53
-26.5
        MT005      Centrifuges and filtering and purifying equipment
185
169
301
195
143
-52
-26.5
        MM019     Natural and synthetic gemstones
93
150
192
156
113
-43
-27.5
        EL025        Measuring, testing, and controlling instruments
417
492
452
296
258
-39
-13.0
        CH006       Certain organic chemicals
160
155
169
154
118
-36
-23.1
        EL002        Telecommunications equipment
267
223
225
217
181
-36
-16.4
        CH033       Miscellaneous plastic products
173
182
204
200
180
-35
-17.4
        MT019      Semiconductor manufacturing equipment and robotics
47
41
63
68
36
-32
-47.5
        EP003        Coal, coke, and related chemical products
126
110
74
67
36
-31
-46.5
        MT004      Household appliances, including commercial applications
94
96
111
96
66
-30
-31.2
        MT019A    Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
44
39
54
64
34
-30
-46.5
        TX006        Miscellaneous textile products
204
200
189
148
119
-29
-19.7
        MS019      Arms, ammunition, and armored vehicles
43
22
52
60
32
-29
-47.2
U.S. general imports:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Increases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        EP004        Crude petroleum
33,903
23,469
11,047
5,550
7,249
1,699
30.6
        MM019     Natural and synthetic gemstones
1,354
1,459
1,829
1,185
1,482
297
25.1
        MM020A   Unrefined and refined gold
31
5
349
11
153
142
1,348.9
        TE009        Motor vehicles
1,896
2,171
1,268
1,372
1,512
140
10.2
        AG037       Cocoa, chocolate, and confectionery
1,001
1,046
1,206
1,163
1,298
135
11.6
        AG029       Spices
55
61
87
133
242
109
81.9
        MM037A   Primary and secondary aluminum
19
50
79
0
69
69
(a)
        MM025B   Plates, sheets, and strips of carbon and alloy steels
27
10
41
47
91
44
93.2
        MS006      Precious jewelry and related articles
90
89
97
83
120
37
44.2
        MS005      Silverware and related articles of precious metal
1
7
(b)
12
39
27
223.7
        AG032       Oilseeds
21
24
17
21
38
17
79.8
        TX005C      Men's and boys' trousers
178
183
222
236
250
15
6.2
        EP002        Nuclear materials
32
51
15
19
33
14
77.2
        TX005        Apparel
871
944
1,028
1,022
1,036
14
1.4
        MM038     Aluminum mill products
201
190
179
154
168
14
9.2
        TX005E      Shirts and blouses
367
434
451
436
450
13
3.1
        MM025     Steel mill products
108
93
169
140
153
13
9.2
        CH023       Miscellaneous chemicals and specialties
94
101
86
77
88
10
13.0
        AG012       Sugar and other sweeteners
56
10
71
47
54
8
16.3
        CH036       Natural rubber
317
240
179
114
122
7
6.5
        AG012A    Sugar
56
10
71
46
54
7
16.0
        MM038C   Aluminum plate, sheet, and strip
196
189
179
153
161
7
4.7
        MM038B   Aluminum wire
(b)
0
0
0
6
6
(a)
        CH026       Polypropylene resins in primary forms
2
1
4
3
10
6
188.9
        MM024A   Abrasive products
1
1
(b)
1
7
6
644.7
        EL015        Semiconductors and integrated circuits
3
3
3
5
10
6
124.8
        EL007        Electric sound and visual signaling apparatus
4
10
7
3
9
6
189.6
        CH019       Medicinal chemicals
30
38
29
41
47
6
13.6
        MT006      Wrapping, packaging, and can-sealing machinery
3
1
2
1
5
5
691.1
        AG017       Miscellaneous vegetable substances
39
43
45
42
46
5
11.0
    Decreases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        EP005        Petroleum products
2,704
2,683
2,078
874
735
-139
-15.9
        MM022     Ferroalloys
666
553
821
468
346
-122
-26.0
        MM020     Precious metals and non-numismatic coins
1,902
1,578
1,800
1,621
1,501
-120
-7.4
        MM007     Certain ores, concentrates, ash, and residues
810
880
721
568
469
-99
-17.4
        CH007       Miscellaneous inorganic chemicals
236
197
214
211
126
-85
-40.4
        MM036     Copper and related articles
8
109
111
179
115
-80
-36.1
        MM036A   Unrefined and refined copper
0
98
100
169
105
-64
-37.6
        CH006       Certain organic chemicals
227
250
280
213
152
-60
-28.4
        MM021     Primary iron products
85
83
104
81
28
-52
-80.0
        MM041     Certain base metals and chemical elements
104
146
189
184
133
-51
-27.6
        EP006        Natural gas and components
80
76
150
90
43
-47
-52.3
        CH002       Other olefins
235
212
212
180
135
-45
-25.1
        MT005      Centrifuges and filtering and purifying equipment
224
232
273
332
291
-41
-12.4
        AG028       Coffee and tea
254
228
263
298
264
-34
-11.5
        FP002        Lumber
63
73
77
82
54
-28
-34.4
        AG020       Edible nuts
115
128
153
186
167
-20
-10.6
        EP003        Coal, coke, and related chemical products
41
51
43
54
35
-20
-36.2
        MM025L   Pipes and tubes of carbon and alloy steels
37
29
59
30
15
-15
-49.7
        TE010        Certain motor-vehicle parts
82
72
84
80
80
-15
-18.7
        TE002        Internal combustion piston engines, other than for aircraft
95
69
97
97
83
-14
-14.5
        CH011       Paints, inks, and related items, and certain components thereof
5
8
10
17
6
-11
-80.8
        MM025C   Bars, rods, and light shapes of carbon and alloy steels
8
1
(b)
17
8
-9
-53.6
        MT001      Pumps for liquids
12
9
13
17
8
-9
-51.8
        AG027       Prepared or preserved fruit
1
4
7
17
10
-7
-39.7
        TX005D     Women's and girls' trousers
240
234
245
248
241
-7
-2.7
        TE014        Ships, tugs, pleasure boats, and similar vessels
23
16
20
31
24
-7
-21.6
        TE007        Ignition, starting, lighting, and other electrical equipment
6
2
5
9
3
-6
-68.6
        TE004        Construction and mining equipment
9
7
5
18
12
-6
-35.0
        TX005I       Robes, nightwear, and underwear
6
7
15
8
2
-6
-72.2
        TX005G     Women's and girls' suits, skirts, and coats
16
20
25
28
23
-5
-19.1

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. These reflect all official revisions of previously published data up to June 2016 (accessed August 15, 2017).

Note: Import values are based on customs value; export values are based on free along ship value, U.S. port of export. Calculations based on unrounded data.

aNot meaningful for purposes of comparison.
bLess than $500,000.