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For Immediate Release | February 6, 2014 U.S. EXPORTS TO ARAB WORLD GREW 7.51 PERCENT IN 2013 New Trade Data Indicate U.S. Merchandise Exports to MENA Region Set All-Time Record: $70.85 Billion Sales of U.S. Goods to the MENA Region Increase for Fourth Consecutive Year UAE and Saudi Arabia Are Top Two Markets. Egypt, Despite Challenges, Retains Third Place. |
 According to new U.S. Government data analyzed by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), 2013 was another record-breaking year for U.S. merchandise exports to the Arab world. Based on just-released 2013 data and revised 2012 figures provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. goods exports to the 22 nations of the Arab world increased from $65.91 billion in 2012 to $70.85 billion in 2013, an increase of 7.51 percent and the highest single-year sales volume ever. By comparison, total U.S. merchandise exports to the world increased by only 2.09 percent, from $1.546 trillion in 2012 to $1.579 trillion in 2013.
“Despite the challenges of the Arab Spring, U.S. exports to the Arab world continue to reach new highs,” noted David Hamod, President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce. “These impressive numbers are largely attributable to unprecedented infrastructure development throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. This is very good news for U.S. companies, many of which are looking to compensate for weak demand in the U.S. marketplace by increasing their exports overseas.” The largest category of goods exported was Transportation Equipment, including commercial aircraft, which constituted $ 26.31 billion (37.1 percent) of total U.S. goods shipped to the Arab world. Other “Top Five” export sectors included Non-Electrical Machinery ($8.63 billion, 12.2 percent), Computer & Electronic Products ($6.52 billion, 9.2 percent), Chemicals ($3.96 billion, 5.6 percent), and Food & Kindred Products ($3.38 billion, 4.8 percent).
Egypt retained its position as the third largest Arab market for U.S. goods, despite a drop in sales of nearly five percent, probably attributable to political unrest in that nation. As last year, Qatar and Kuwait filled out the remaining “Top Five” importing nations. The “Second Five” tier of importing nations included Iraq and the four Free Trade Agreement nations in the Arab world: Morocco, Jordan, Oman and Bahrain. Some countries posted impressive gains over last year:
TOP FIVE ARAB MARKETS FOR U.S. GOODS:
The “Top Three” exporting States to the Arab world remained the same: Texas, Washington, and California. Texas goods exports grew to $11,905,606,392, an increase of 12.7 percent over last year. Washington goods exports grew to $8,405,378,218, an increase of 4.71 percent over last year. California goods exports decreased to $ 4,445,840,784, a drop of 15.49 percent from last year. Rounding out the “Top Ten” were New York (14.09%), Florida (19.84%), Louisiana (-7.41%), Georgia (10.15%), New Jersey (25.34%), Ohio (59.37%), and Maryland (4.19%). Full data for each of the 22 Arab countries and each of the 50 U.S. states will be available on the NUSACC website very soon. To review preliminary data, click here to see a ranking of the 22 countries of the Arab world by sales volumes, by percentage of change from 2012 to 2013, and alphabetized by country. |
As in previous years, importing countries were led by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for $43.6 billion – well over half of all U.S. merchandise exports to the Arab world (61.5 percent). The GCC nations – which have largely been shielded from the disruptions of the Arab Spring – continued to drive U.S. exports to the region, accounting for 75.7 percent of total sales of goods to the 22 countries of the Arab world.
