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Minerals and Metals

Change from 2015 to 2016:

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Table MM.1   Minerals and metals: U.S. exports and general imports, by selected trading partners, 2012–16

 
Million $
  
           
Absolute change,
Percent change,
Item 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2015-16 2015-16
U.S. exports of domestic merchandise:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Canada
28,948
27,739
27,443
23,708
22,154
-1,554
-6.6
    China
12,188
11,959
10,440
7,732
7,000
-732
-9.5
    Mexico
17,757
18,794
20,897
20,330
18,334
-1,996
-9.8
    India
4,644
2,641
2,314
4,029
3,133
-895
-22.2
    Switzerland
14,788
13,131
7,244
7,724
7,745
20
0.3
    Germany
3,928
4,043
3,821
3,639
3,420
-219
-6.0
    United Kingdom
11,153
4,759
6,819
6,715
6,616
-99
-1.5
    Japan
3,078
3,166
3,426
3,147
2,993
-154
-4.9
    Israel
1,909
857
576
955
942
-14
-1.4
    South Korea
3,796
3,681
3,331
2,881
2,429
-453
-15.7
    All other
38,781
42,694
35,472
28,796
24,982
-3,814
-13.2
        Total domestic exports
140,968
133,465
121,784
109,656
99,747
-9,909
-9.0
Re-exports
23,012
27,045
31,130
26,002
28,874
2,872
11.0
Total U.S. exports (domestic and re-exports)
163,980
160,510
152,914
135,659
128,621
-7,037
-5.2
U.S. general imports:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Canada
32,431
32,671
33,324
29,770
28,785
-985
-3.3
    China
27,033
27,788
31,038
32,065
30,270
-1,794
-5.6
    Mexico
21,997
19,278
19,505
18,108
18,107
-1
(a)
    India
8,673
10,343
11,084
10,857
11,431
574
5.3
    Switzerland
1,630
1,435
2,051
1,672
4,803
3,132
187.3
    Germany
7,921
7,743
8,203
7,763
6,912
-851
-11.0
    United Kingdom
3,713
3,332
3,835
3,079
2,991
-87
-2.8
    Japan
8,153
7,431
7,402
6,744
6,240
-505
-7.5
    Israel
8,818
9,385
9,962
9,001
7,734
-1,267
-14.1
    South Korea
5,907
5,550
7,717
6,910
5,309
-1,600
-23.2
    All other
68,802
65,486
71,383
63,288
61,035
-2,254
-3.6
        Total general imports
195,077
190,442
205,502
189,255
183,618
-5,638
-3.0

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 March 27, 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. The countries shown are those with the largest total U.S. trade (U.S. general imports plus U.S. domestic exports) in these products in the current year.

a Less than 0.05 percent.

Table MM.2  Minerals and metals: Leading changes in U.S. exports and imports, 2012–16

 
Million $
  
           
Absolute change,
Percent change,
USITC code and industry/commodity group 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2015-16 2015-16
U.S. domestic exports:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Increases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        MM036A   Unrefined and refined copper
841
493
604
298
500
202
67.8
        MM032     Industrial fasteners of base metal
3,140
3,389
3,556
3,499
3,695
196
5.6
        MM038A   Aluminum bars, rods, and profiles
736
877
856
864
1,049
185
21.4
        MM005A   Lead ores and concentrates
580
586
802
665
755
90
13.6
        MM005     Lead ores, concentrates, and residues
581
587
803
666
755
90
13.5
        MM040A   Unwrought zinc
15
11
37
29
96
68
235.6
        MM015     Glass containers
295
268
276
272
327
55
20.2
        MM039     Lead and related articles
253
275
300
239
287
48
20.0
        MM041A   Titanium ingot
71
87
78
87
118
31
36.0
        MM021     Primary iron products
12
7
4
7
39
31
416.2
        MM014     Flat glass
2,437
2,617
2,721
2,782
2,812
31
1.1
        MM024A   Abrasive products
514
531
576
568
593
25
4.3
        MM008B   Silver ores and concentrates
48
35
19
9
29
20
231.8
        MM040     Zinc and related articles
313
303
342
310
330
19
6.2
        MM025J    Wire of stainless steels
110
101
111
108
119
11
10.0
        MM018     Fiberglass insulation products
187
234
263
203
213
9
4.6
        MM044     Table flatware and related products
26
24
24
27
30
3
11.8
        MM025H  Bars, rods, and light shapes of stainless steels
383
330
347
301
304
3
0.9
    Decreases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        MM020A   Unrefined and refined gold
33,628
31,346
19,976
18,466
15,874
-2,592
-14.0
        MM020     Precious metals and non-numismatic coins
43,091
38,616
26,603
25,141
22,745
-2,396
-9.5
        MM025     Steel mill products
16,991
16,038
15,929
12,817
10,904
-1,913
-14.9
        MM037     Unwrought aluminum
4,415
4,190
3,820
3,200
2,474
-726
-22.7
        MM031     Miscellaneous products of base metal
8,838
9,284
9,966
9,421
8,710
-711
-7.5
        MM036     Copper and related articles
8,821
8,231
7,519
6,114
5,413
-701
-11.5
        MM004     Copper ores and concentrates
2,396
2,573
3,238
3,083
2,395
-688
-22.3
        MM025L   Pipes and tubes of carbon and alloy steels
3,903
4,179
3,815
2,540
1,914
-626
-24.7
        MM023     Iron and steel waste and scrap
9,421
7,579
6,167
4,019
3,571
-448
-11.1
        MM025B   Plates, sheets, and strips of carbon and alloy steels
5,923
5,484
5,567
4,882
4,444
-438
-9.0
        MM007     Certain ores, concentrates, ash, and residues
1,279
1,204
1,420
1,051
645
-406
-38.7
        MM042     Nonpowered handtools
4,077
4,052
3,986
3,480
3,126
-354
-10.2
        MM026     Steel pipe and tube fittings and certain cast products
1,840
1,933
2,017
1,620
1,302
-317
-19.6
        MM025G  Plates, sheets, and strips of stainless steels
1,282
1,377
1,803
1,652
1,368
-284
-17.2
        MM041     Certain base metals and chemical elements
4,365
4,227
4,372
4,251
3,998
-253
-6.0
        MM007A   Molybdenum ores and concentrates
1,120
1,032
1,242
587
343
-244
-41.6
        MM025C   Bars, rods, and light shapes of carbon and alloy steels
1,850
1,498
1,522
1,132
892
-240
-21.2
        MM030     Wire products of base metal
1,759
1,909
1,998
1,793
1,563
-230
-12.8
        MM027     Fabricated structurals
735
803
725
581
352
-229
-39.4
        MM038C   Aluminum plate, sheet, and strip
3,655
3,824
3,764
3,654
3,437
-217
-5.9
        MM037A   Primary and secondary aluminum
1,057
1,018
1,028
835
641
-193
-23.2
        MM009     Cement, stone, and related products
3,251
3,439
3,837
3,757
3,579
-177
-4.7
        MM019     Natural and synthetic gemstones
3,631
2,357
2,184
3,041
2,928
-113
-3.7
        MM029     Metallic containers
1,649
1,786
1,931
1,858
1,747
-111
-5.9
        MM038     Aluminum mill products
5,532
5,787
5,756
5,598
5,492
-106
-1.9
        MM028     Metal construction components
1,797
1,565
1,464
1,383
1,288
-95
-6.9
        MM025D  Angles, shapes, and sections of carbon and alloy steels
1,114
922
737
508
420
-88
-17.3
        MM006A   Zinc ores and concentrates
854
907
1,181
1,039
966
-73
-7.0
        MM010     Industrial ceramics
1,273
1,310
1,437
1,351
1,288
-63
-4.7
        MM006     Zinc ores, concentrates, and residues
874
932
1,227
1,076
1,014
-62
-5.8
U.S. general imports:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Increases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        MM020     Precious metals and non-numismatic coins
32,164
30,216
26,833
22,046
27,440
5,394
24.5
        MM020A   Unrefined and refined gold
15,875
14,153
12,819
10,131
15,193
5,062
50.0
        MM037A   Primary and secondary aluminum
6,666
6,375
7,172
7,202
7,939
737
10.2
        MM019     Natural and synthetic gemstones
21,601
24,922
26,491
25,374
26,094
720
2.8
        MM037     Unwrought aluminum
7,945
7,608
8,483
8,376
8,936
560
6.7
        MM028     Metal construction components
2,174
2,340
2,497
3,309
3,767
458
13.8
        MM033     Cooking and kitchen ware
2,791
3,052
3,041
3,391
3,822
431
12.7
        MM027     Fabricated structurals
1,889
1,036
1,300
1,617
1,724
107
6.6
        MM009A   Cement
524
549
619
804
901
97
12.0
        MM038B   Aluminum wire
644
583
597
499
589
90
18.1
        MM014     Flat glass
1,885
1,894
2,235
2,466
2,555
89
3.6
        MM012     Ceramic floor and wall tiles
1,186
1,413
1,498
1,642
1,727
85
5.2
        MM004     Copper ores and concentrates
99
84
88
74
145
71
95.2
        MM009     Cement, stone, and related products
5,821
6,468
7,101
7,813
7,873
60
0.8
        MM040A   Unwrought zinc
1,311
1,326
1,430
1,396
1,452
56
4.0
        MM039     Lead and related articles
892
1,155
1,361
1,093
1,146
53
4.8
        MM040     Zinc and related articles
1,601
1,589
1,737
1,688
1,725
37
2.2
        MM045     Certain builders' hardware
4,035
4,398
4,643
5,018
5,048
30
0.6
        MM024A   Abrasive products
808
825
892
907
935
28
3.1
        MM039A   Refined lead
344
670
911
771
798
27
3.5
        MM011     Ceramic bricks and similar articles
44
55
52
55
64
10
17.4
        MM007A   Molybdenum ores and concentrates
299
298
402
206
214
9
4.2
        MM038E   Aluminum tubes, pipes, and fittings
235
244
265
258
259
1
0.6
        MM005     Lead ores, concentrates, and residues
29
20
1
1
2
1
69.7
        MM001     Clays and related mineral products
455
431
467
424
425
1
0.2
        MM041A   Titanium ingot
10
16
13
13
14
(a)
3.6
        MM005A   Lead ores and concentrates
28
18
0
0
(a)
(a)
(b)
    Decreases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        MM025     Steel mill products
34,231
29,117
38,156
30,428
22,251
-8,177
-26.9
        MM025L   Pipes and tubes of carbon and alloy steels
11,270
8,930
10,141
7,842
4,214
-3,628
-46.3
        MM025B   Plates, sheets, and strips of carbon and alloy steels
8,729
7,926
12,266
10,422
8,478
-1,944
-18.7
        MM041     Certain base metals and chemical elements
6,761
5,850
6,722
5,323
4,423
-900
-16.9
        MM036     Copper and related articles
9,732
10,155
9,150
7,923
7,120
-803
-10.1
        MM025C   Bars, rods, and light shapes of carbon and alloy steels
3,467
3,112
3,783
3,330
2,670
-661
-19.8
        MM025A   Ingots, blooms, billets, and slabs of carbon and alloy steels
4,094
3,404
5,199
2,812
2,201
-611
-21.7
        MM032     Industrial fasteners of base metal
4,776
4,649
5,080
5,182
4,686
-497
-9.6
        MM021     Primary iron products
2,925
2,474
2,707
1,782
1,286
-496
-27.8
        MM026     Steel pipe and tube fittings and certain cast products
2,490
2,307
2,521
2,299
1,825
-474
-20.6
        MM036A   Unrefined and refined copper
4,922
5,427
4,222
3,808
3,347
-461
-12.1
        MM022     Ferroalloys
2,897
2,475
3,254
2,207
1,806
-401
-18.2
        MM007     Certain ores, concentrates, ash, and residues
2,330
2,257
2,242
1,727
1,445
-282
-16.4
        MM042     Nonpowered handtools
6,119
6,398
6,783
6,822
6,543
-279
-4.1
        MM038C   Aluminum plate, sheet, and strip
2,252
2,088
2,365
2,813
2,542
-271
-9.6
        MM025M  Pipes and tubes of stainless steels
1,021
905
1,105
911
644
-267
-29.3
        MM038     Aluminum mill products
4,644
4,574
5,050
5,482
5,215
-267
-4.9
        MM025H  Bars, rods, and light shapes of stainless steels
799
656
796
753
506
-247
-32.8
        MM025G  Plates, sheets, and strips of stainless steels
1,779
1,356
1,569
1,324
1,081
-242
-18.3
        MM003     Iron ores and concentrates
759
426
676
455
246
-209
-46.0
        MM031     Miscellaneous products of base metal
15,153
15,377
16,472
16,975
16,782
-193
-1.1
        MM025D  Angles, shapes, and sections of carbon and alloy steels
580
642
921
836
668
-168
-20.1
        MM030     Wire products of base metal
2,801
2,733
2,785
2,705
2,548
-157
-5.8
        MM025N  Tool steels
476
386
439
434
316
-118
-27.3
        MM013     Ceramic household articles
1,519
1,612
1,649
1,787
1,687
-100
-5.6
        MM029     Metallic containers
1,412
1,417
1,488
1,584
1,489
-94
-6.0
        MM025E   Wire of carbon and alloy steels
806
771
850
862
770
-92
-10.7
        MM025F   Ingots, blooms, billets, and slabs of stainless steels
498
315
364
247
166
-80
-32.6
        MM025K   Rails and accessories of carbon and alloy steels
441
455
441
394
319
-75
-19.0
        MM043     Certain cutlery, sewing implements, and related products
1,767
1,825
1,938
2,101
2,027
-74
-3.5

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 March 27, 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.

a Less than $500,000.
b Not meaningful for purposes of comparison.