Top 10 exports from the United States to China
International trade between the United States and China will undoubtedly increase in the years to come and below is a snapshot of the leading goods being shipped from the United States to China for the year 2011. Although exports from China to the United States have long created a trade imbalance between the two countries in favor of the Middle Kingdom, when China becomes a consumer driven economy, more and more products from the United States will likely be shipped to China and purchased by the more affluent Chinese consumer. The list below covers the top ten US exports to China and the statistics come from the US-China Trade Council.
*all figures in United States dollars
$10.8 Billion: Power Generation Equipment – This section includes equipment such as nuclear, wind and hydro-power equipment that is fueling China’s purchasing from the United States. Coal has been the major source of energy in the Middle Kingdom’s industrial growth. As China’s leaders seek to eliminate pollution from its large cities, more and more energy efficient power generation equipment will be needed.
$10.7 Billion: Oil Seeds and Oleaginous Fruits- One of the leading products driving this sector is the soy bean from the state of Iowa. Last year Xi Jinping and a trade delegation finalized a 4.3 billion dollar deal for Iowa farmers to supply China with their soybeans. As Chinese consumers shift their diets from vegetables to meat, more and more feed is needed for livestock, such as chickens. Other oilseeds being exported to China include rapeseed, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and cotton seeds.
$7.2 Billion: Electrical Machinery and Equipment- An assortment of products account for this sector and each sub-sector has been italicized. Automotive, aerospace and medical devices account for Manufacturing Machinery. Electric motors, pumps, valves, compressors, industrial controls and material handling equipment are included in Industrial Processing. Construction, forestry and mining are included in Heavy Off Road Equipment. Turbines, power transmissions, and internal combustion are included in Power and Energy. Equipment used to process, package, grow and move food and beverages are included in Food and Agricultural Division.
$6.4 Billion: Vehicles, excluding Rail- BMWs are a prized possession of the nouveau riche in China and demand has increased year over year. South Carolina surpassed Michigan as the leading supplier of BMWs to China in 2011. The BMW manufacturing plant in South Carolina is the exclusive producer of BMW X3, X5, and X6 Sport Activity Models.
$6.3 Billion: Aircraft and Spacecraft- Boeing is a leading manufacturer of aircraft and aircraft parts based in the state of Washington; it ships many of its goods to China, helping grow China’s burgeoning travel and tourism industry as well as its fledgling space exploration program. Recently, congress passed legislation to ease restrictions on the export of satellite technology, which will undoubtedly be shipped to China.
$5.2 Billion: Optics and Medical Equipment- One factor that has increased demand for these products in China has been its ageing population. Products in this industry include dental equipment, dental materials, orthodontic materials, dental teaching supplies. In the Optics Industry, products such as sunglasses, reading glasses, frames, sports glasses, optical tools and parts, contact lenses and eye examination equipment are sold. Emergency care ventilators and bio-chemistry analyzer are lacking in some of China’s hospitals, and this has proven to be a niche that medical equipment suppliers have exploited for profit. Some rural hospitals lack the bedding requirements to effectively treat patients.
$5 Billion: Plastics and Articles Thereof- China imports plastic waste to recycle and use in its manufacturing industry; some of the products that use recycled plastic include textiles, toys and kitchen utensils. For example, PET plastic is turned into polyester fiber and used in the manufacturing of fleece.
$3.8 Billion: Pulp and Paperboard- Because of outdated manufacturing techniques and lack of high quality materials, China’s demand for pulp and paper continues to steadily grow. China has a lack of wood resources, meaning forests, so this drives demand for pulp and paperboard so that it can produce newsprint, pigment paper, bulk paper, writing paper, fine sulfate paper, and sulfate liner.
$3.7 Billion: Copper and Articles Thereof- China is the largest copper importer in the world. It uses copper for its infrastructure including plumbing, telecommunication wiring, and building material and for manufacturing equipment, including electric power generation and transmission equipment. The United States supplies China with copper waste scrap.
$3.5 Billion: Organic Chemicals-Petrochemicals are derived from petroleum and are the base of chemical of materials such as plastics, resins, lubricants and gels. For example, Vaseline is a product derived from petrochemicals. In addition, China relies on oil to make its petrochemical products. China’s four key chemical zones are located in Guangdong, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Tianjin.
The above content is a guest article by China Newz, a blog that covers all things about China, including politics, history, economics and culture.
