May 2026

Released July 07, 2026


-$77.6B
Total trade balance
May 2026
-$106.5B
Goods trade balance
May 2026
$28.9B
Services trade balance
May 2026


Contents

Balance of payments

Census basis

Exports

Imports

Import duties

Prices and inflation


Balance of payments


In May 2026:


  • In May, the United States ran a total trade deficit of $77.58 billion.
    • The trade deficit is up $23.02 billion from April.
    • The trade deficit is 28 percent above the 12-month average.
    • In trade of goods, the U.S. ran a trade deficit of $106.48 billion, up $23.57 billion from April and 20 percent above the 12-month average.
    • In trade of services, the U.S. ran a trade surplus of $28.90 billion, up $557 million from April and 3 percent above the 12-month average.


  • Total exports was $317.68 billion, down $10.51 billion from April and 6 percent above the 12-month average.
    • Total exports of goods was $210.56 billion, down $11.29 billion from April.
    • Total exports of services was $107.12 billion, up $777 million from April.


  • Total imports was $395.26 billion, up $12.50 billion from April and 10 percent above the 12-month average.
    • Total imports of goods was $317.04 billion, up $12.28 billion from April.
    • Total imports of services was $78.22 billion, up $220 million from April.


From May 2025 to May 2026:


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, the U.S. ran a total trade deficit of $728.02 billion.
    • In trade of goods, the U.S. ran a trade deficit of $1.06 trillion.
    • In trade of services, the U.S. ran a trade surplus of $336.00 billion.


  • Total exports was $3.59 trillion.
    • Total exports of goods was $2.33 trillion.
    • Total exports of services was $1.26 trillion.


  • Total imports was $4.32 trillion.
    • Total imports of goods was $3.39 trillion.
    • Total imports of services was $927.89 billion.




Table 1. Trade balance

May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference 12-month average Past 12 months
Goods
Exports $210.56B $181.78B 15.83% $194.22B $2.33T
– Imports $317.04B $274.56B 15.47% $282.89B $3.39T
Goods trade balance -$106.48B -$92.77B 14.78% -$88.67B -$1.06T
Services
Exports $107.12B $100.44B 6.64% $105.32B $1.26T
– Imports $78.22B $74.42B 5.10% $77.32B $927.89B
Services trade balance $28.90B $26.03B 11.04% $28.00B $336.00B
Total
Exports $317.68B $282.23B 12.56% $299.54B $3.59T
– Imports $395.26B $348.98B 13.26% $360.21B $4.32T
Total trade balance -$77.58B -$66.75B 16.24% -$60.67B -$728.02B


Census basis


The Bureau of Economic Analysis adjusted the May 2026 Census basis figures for goods exports by about 0.01 percent, and for goods imports by about 0.01 percent. See the Notes section for more information about these adjustments. This section reports the trade figures for goods as collected by the U.S. Census Bureau without adjustment unless specified otherwise.








Table 2. Largest deficits by country

Trading partner Past 12 months Share of past 12 months May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference
Vietnam -$203.85B 19.76% -$20.32B -$14.72B 38.02%
Mexico -$199.18B 19.31% -$21.13B -$17.97B 17.56%
Taiwan -$194.38B 18.84% -$19.84B -$11.63B 70.58%
China -$158.64B 15.38% -$14.39B -$13.95B 3.18%
Thailand -$93.93B 9.11% -$9.20B -$5.17B 78.12%
Germany -$62.46B 6.05% -$5.80B -$6.71B -13.64%
South Korea -$58.65B 5.69% -$4.92B -$6.00B -17.98%
Japan -$53.62B 5.20% -$753.43M -$4.91B -84.65%
Ireland -$52.19B 5.06% -$3.98B -$11.82B -66.31%
India -$47.93B 4.65% -$4.61B -$5.66B -18.44%


Table 3. Largest surpluses by country

Trading partner Past 12 months Share of past 12 months May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference
Netherlands $75.57B -7.33% $9.11B $4.68B 94.67%
United Kingdom $44.48B -4.31% $1.71B $3.31B -48.42%
Hong Kong $41.23B -4.00% $4.91B $3.24B 51.42%
Switzerland $30.23B -2.93% -$1.91B $5.22B -136.63%
United Arab Emirates $24.87B -2.41% $1.29B $1.93B -33.30%
Brazil $18.92B -1.83% $1.22B $618.36M 96.84%
Australia $15.14B -1.47% $1.95B $1.52B 28.20%
Singapore $13.65B -1.32% $1.14B $497.77M 129.45%
Belgium $10.91B -1.06% $808.45M $464.11M 74.19%
Panama $8.92B -0.86% $792.21M $774.36M 2.30%


Exports




Table 4. Top exports by good

Exported good Past 12 months Share of past 12 months May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference
Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts $162.40B 7.02% $14.04B $11.69B 20.13%
Nonmonetary gold $123.04B 5.32% $5.79B $5.60B 3.28%
Pharmaceutical preparations $120.04B 5.19% $8.97B $9.75B -8.05%
Crude oil $118.56B 5.13% $19.09B $7.37B 158.86%
Petroleum products, other $80.74B 3.49% $8.59B $5.93B 44.79%
Semiconductors $74.47B 3.22% $6.54B $5.37B 21.67%
Industrial machines, other $70.00B 3.03% $5.94B $5.78B 2.70%
Computer accessories $68.63B 2.97% $5.73B $5.21B 10.00%
Electric apparatus $58.72B 2.54% $5.77B $4.74B 21.59%
Gas-natural $58.20B 2.52% $4.50B $4.08B 10.15%


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, the U.S. exported the most to Mexico ($358.90 billion), Canada ($333.70 billion), and United Kingdom ($108.08 billion).
  • Together, these countries accounted for 34.63 percent of the value of all U.S. exports over those 12 months.



Table 5. Top exports by destination country

Export destination Past 12 months Share of past 12 months May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference
Mexico $358.90B 15.52% $33.05B $28.14B 17.45%
Canada $333.70B 14.43% $29.79B $28.28B 5.36%
United Kingdom $108.08B 4.67% $7.60B $8.08B -6.01%
China $105.49B 4.56% $9.12B $6.48B 40.75%
Netherlands $103.74B 4.49% $11.25B $8.45B 33.11%
Japan $88.10B 3.81% $11.01B $7.08B 55.50%
Germany $85.86B 3.71% $7.61B $6.49B 17.21%
Switzerland $84.36B 3.65% $2.38B $8.51B -72.01%
South Korea $76.50B 3.31% $8.38B $5.46B 53.54%
Taiwan $58.04B 2.51% $4.74B $4.75B -0.30%


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, the port districts with the highest exports were New York City, NY ($273.88 billion), Houston-Galveston, TX ($266.35 billion), and Laredo, TX ($169.20 billion).




Table 6. Top exports by U.S. port district

Customs district Past 12 months Share of past 12 months Air Vessel Road, rail, and other
New York City, NY $273.88B 11.85% $225.45B $46.68B $1.75B
Houston-Galveston, TX $266.35B 11.52% $13.61B $252.54B $207.85M
Laredo, TX $169.20B 7.32% $505.80M $749.50M $167.95B
New Orleans, LA $157.87B 6.83% $66.08B $89.03B $2.76B
Los Angeles, CA $139.43B 6.03% $82.03B $56.42B $977.73M
Detroit, MI $137.97B 5.97% $4.44B $679.19M $132.85B
Chicago, IL $100.63B 4.35% $98.72B $658.62M $1.25B
Low Value $95.47B 4.13% $0.00 $0.00 $95.47B
Miami, FL $89.90B 3.89% $58.61B $29.08B $2.21B
El Paso, TX $75.45B 3.26% $233.19M $0.00 $75.22B


Imports




Table 7. Top imports by good

Imported good Past 12 months Share of past 12 months May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference
Computers $294.74B 8.82% $31.23B $17.85B 74.94%
Pharmaceutical preparations $198.26B 5.93% $15.67B $25.96B -39.65%
Computer accessories $170.04B 5.09% $20.08B $10.82B 85.63%
Passenger cars, new and used $167.99B 5.02% $14.94B $15.86B -5.80%
Crude oil $141.33B 4.23% $15.12B $12.00B 26.03%
Other parts and accessories of vehicles $136.44B 4.08% $12.28B $11.89B 3.25%
Telecommunications equipment $135.18B 4.04% $13.00B $8.93B 45.61%
U.S. goods returned, and reimports $107.01B 3.20% $9.80B $8.59B 14.06%
Electric apparatus $105.10B 3.14% $9.05B $8.95B 1.13%
Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c. $103.55B 3.10% $8.79B $7.55B 16.33%


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, the U.S. imported the most from Mexico ($558.08 billion), Canada ($377.10 billion), and China ($264.13 billion).
  • Together, these countries accounted for 35.87 percent of the value of all U.S. imports over those 12 months.



Table 8. Top imports by country of origin

Import origin Past 12 months Share of past 12 months May 2026 May 2025 Y/Y difference
Mexico $558.08B 16.69% $54.18B $46.11B 17.49%
Canada $377.10B 11.28% $36.34B $29.98B 21.21%
China $264.13B 7.90% $23.51B $20.42B 15.10%
Taiwan $252.43B 7.55% $24.58B $16.38B 50.02%
Vietnam $221.37B 6.62% $21.76B $15.99B 36.09%
Germany $148.33B 4.44% $13.40B $13.20B 1.52%
Japan $141.72B 4.24% $11.76B $11.98B -1.88%
South Korea $135.15B 4.04% $13.30B $11.46B 16.09%
Thailand $115.19B 3.45% $11.42B $6.77B 68.81%
India $97.04B 2.90% $9.14B $9.43B -3.07%


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, the port districts with the highest imports were Los Angeles, CA ($379.22 billion), Chicago, IL ($331.73 billion), and Laredo, TX ($328.22 billion).




Table 9. Top imports by U.S. port district

Customs district Past 12 months Share of past 12 months Air Vessel Road, rail, and other
Los Angeles, CA $379.22B 11.34% $124.13B $254.67B $415.00M
Chicago, IL $331.73B 9.92% $229.52B $51.91B $50.30B
Laredo, TX $328.22B 9.82% $6.64B $3.67B $317.91B
New York City, NY $295.79B 8.85% $131.46B $159.16B $5.16B
Savannah, GA $179.38B 5.36% $76.42B $102.66B $297.50M
San Francisco, CA $163.72B 4.90% $111.69B $51.90B $132.18M
El Paso, TX $151.02B 4.52% $19.19B $3.02B $128.80B
Detroit, MI $144.81B 4.33% $2.21B $7.77B $134.83B
Cleveland, OH $139.15B 4.16% $97.93B $35.87B $5.34B
New Orleans, LA $129.84B 3.88% $69.38B $55.59B $4.87B


Import duties







Table 10. Top calculated duties by good

Imported good Calculated duty Average applied duty rate
Passenger cars, new and used $28.65B 17.05%
Other parts and accessories of vehicles $17.32B 12.98%
Electric apparatus $14.92B 14.96%
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotton $14.16B 28.88%
Industrial machines, other $12.66B 15.43%
Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c. $10.57B 9.57%
Apparel, household goods - cotton $10.25B 25.72%
Toys, games, and sporting goods $7.45B 19.81%
Finished metal shapes $7.43B 23.47%
Bauxite and aluminum $7.08B 39.75%



Table 11. Top average applied duty rates by good

Imported good Calculated duty Average applied duty rate
Iron and steel, advanced $5.48B 47.80%
Iron and steel products, n.e.c. $3.82B 42.51%
Bauxite and aluminum $7.08B 39.75%
Iron and steel mill products $5.52B 37.07%
Drilling & oilfield equipment $1.27B 30.40%
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotton $14.16B 28.88%
Cookware, cutlery, tools $2.80B 27.74%
Camping apparel and gear $3.64B 27.72%
Glassware, chinaware $685.32M 26.44%
Apparel, household goods - cotton $10.25B 25.72%


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, the top countries of origin by calculated duty revenue were China ($82.16 billion), Vietnam ($22.81 billion), and Mexico ($22.63 billion).

  • The average applied duty rates on the goods from those countries were 32.55 percent, 10.07 percent, and 4.07 percent, respectively.




Table 12. Top calculated duties by country of origin

Country of origin Calculated duty Average applied duty rate
China $82.16B 32.55%
Vietnam $22.81B 10.07%
Mexico $22.63B 4.07%
Japan $18.83B 13.52%
Germany $15.43B 10.48%
South Korea $13.72B 10.41%
India $13.16B 13.55%
Canada $12.59B 3.34%
Thailand $8.80B 7.67%
Taiwan $7.75B 3.15%



Table 13. Top average applied duty rates by country of origin

Country of origin Calculated duty Average applied duty rate
China $82.16B 32.55%
Burma (Myanmar) $214.98M 30.39%
Bangladesh $2.63B 28.20%
Bahrain $267.99M 27.25%
Azerbaijan $21.36M 25.00%
Sri Lanka $746.83M 24.81%
Moldova $19.08M 23.72%
Pakistan $1.22B 23.12%
Cambodia $3.94B 22.97%
Serbia $196.46M 22.82%


Prices and inflation


Exchange rates


Terms of trade (ToT) is the ratio of a country’s export prices to its import prices. Stronger ToT means a country can buy more imports for a given amount of exports. A stronger U.S. dollar can improve U.S. ToT with trading partners by lowering the dollar price of imports from the foreign country.


From May 2025 to May 2026:

The U.S. dollar:

  • Weakened against the Chinese yuan by 6 percent.

  • Weakened against the Euro by 2.1 percent.

  • Strengthened against the British pound by 0.5 percent.

  • Strengthened against the Japanese yen by 11.5 percent.

  • Weakened against the Mexican peso by 9.8 percent.


Table 14. USD to foreign currency exchange rates

Currency May 29, 2026 Apr 28, 2026 M/M difference Jun 02, 2025 Y/Y difference
Chinese yuan ¥6.77 ¥6.84 -1.04% ¥7.20 -5.99%
Euro €0.86 €0.85 0.31% €0.87 -2.11%
British pound £0.74 £0.74 0.27% £0.74 0.54%
Japanese yen ¥159.23 ¥159.53 -0.19% ¥142.76 11.54%
Mexican peso MX$17.35 MX$17.38 -0.15% MX$19.24 -9.85%

Note: Currencies are sorted in alphabetical order by their ISO 4217 codes. The date shown in the third column is the date 22 business days before the date shown in the second column.



Exports





Table 15. Exported goods inflation

May 2026 Apr 2026 M/M difference May 2025 Y/Y difference
Month-over-month inflation
All exports 1.26% 3.48% -2.22pp -0.66% 1.92pp
Agricultural exports 1.21% 1.74% -0.53pp 0.17% 1.04pp
Nonagricultural exports 1.25% 3.68% -2.43pp -0.75% 2.00pp
Foods, feeds, and beverages 0.85% 1.68% -0.83pp 0.25% 0.60pp
Industrial supplies and materials 2.40% 7.80% -5.40pp -2.23% 4.63pp
Capital goods 0.54% 0.70% -0.16pp 0.40% 0.14pp
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines 0.07% -0.07% 0.14pp 0.23% -0.16pp
Consumer goods 0.16% 0.24% -0.08pp 0.08% 0.08pp
Year-over-year inflation
All exports 11.21% 9.11% 2.10pp 1.88% 9.33pp
Agricultural exports 5.46% 4.39% 1.07pp 1.63% 3.83pp
Nonagricultural exports 11.84% 9.63% 2.21pp 1.82% 10.02pp
Foods, feeds, and beverages 5.63% 5.01% 0.62pp 2.92% 2.71pp
Industrial supplies and materials 24.69% 19.06% 5.63pp 1.56% 23.13pp
Capital goods 3.02% 2.88% 0.14pp 1.86% 1.16pp
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines 1.21% 1.36% -0.15pp 2.79% -1.58pp
Consumer goods 3.43% 3.35% 0.08pp 1.19% 2.24pp


Imports


This inflation can reflect both changes in trade policy and the composition of goods imported in each category. See the Notes section for important information on interpreting this data.





Table 16. Imported goods inflation

May 2026 Apr 2026 M/M difference May 2025 Y/Y difference
Month-over-month inflation
All imports 2.04% 1.90% 0.14pp 1.25% 0.79pp
Fuels and lubricants 12.42% 18.66% -6.24pp 0.73% 11.69pp
All imports, excluding fuels 0.97% 0.50% 0.47pp 1.67% -0.70pp
Foods, feeds, and beverages -0.23% 0.42% -0.65pp 2.18% -2.41pp
Industrial supplies and materials 5.76% 7.45% -1.69pp -0.49% 6.25pp
Capital goods 1.33% 0.89% 0.44pp 1.45% -0.12pp
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines 0.12% 0.06% 0.06pp 4.15% -4.03pp
Consumer goods 1.21% -0.29% 1.50pp 0.74% 0.47pp
Year-over-year inflation
All imports 4.61% 3.80% 0.81pp 6.30% -1.69pp
Fuels and lubricants 35.89% 21.75% 14.14pp -10.87% 46.76pp
All imports, excluding fuels 1.63% 2.33% -0.70pp 8.01% -6.38pp
Foods, feeds, and beverages -2.73% -0.38% -2.35pp 11.61% -14.34pp
Industrial supplies and materials 23.96% 16.64% 7.32pp 1.00% 22.96pp
Capital goods 2.75% 2.87% -0.12pp 6.72% -3.97pp
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines -6.06% -2.29% -3.77pp 16.46% -22.52pp
Consumer goods 1.14% 0.67% 0.47pp 4.72% -3.58pp


Upcoming releases


Date Time Release Data source
Jul 08 10:00 AM Monthly Debt Update, July 2026 U.S. Treasury
Jul 14 08:30 AM Monthly Inflation Update, June 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics
Jul 14 10:00 AM Monthly Fiscal Update, June 2026 U.S. Treasury
Jul 21 10:00 AM State Employment and Unemployment, June 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics
Jul 30 08:30 AM Monthly Expenditures Update, June 2026 Bureau of Economic Analysis
Jul 30 08:30 AM Monthly GDP Update, Q2 2026 Advance Estimate Bureau of Economic Analysis
Aug 04 08:30 AM Monthly Trade Update, June 2026 Bureau of Economic Analysis
Aug 07 08:30 AM Monthly Employment Update, July 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics
Aug 07 10:00 AM Monthly Debt Update, August 2026 U.S. Treasury


Notes


Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Department of the Treasury; Bureau of Labor Statistics; JEC Republicans calculations


Terminology


Duty: Customs duties are calculated by Customs and Border Protection and may overstate or understate the final total that is ultimately collected by the U.S. Treasury. These duties include tariffs.

Average applied duty rate: The sum of calculated duties as a share of total imports for consumption.

Imports for consumption: The total value of goods cleared through U.S. Customs either by entering consumption channels immediately or by entering via a bonded warehouse or Foreign Trade Zone under CBP custody.

Bonded warehouses: Private warehouses that hold goods after arrival to the U.S. under a bond that indemnifies the government until import duties are paid for those goods.

Foreign Trade Zones: Areas in or around ports where goods brought to the U.S. can be processed and modified before entering customs territory. If these goods leave the U.S. instead of entering U.S. customs territory, they are considered re-exports.

This type of imports include only those goods that enter U.S. customs territory, not all goods that physically arrive in U.S. ports. Duties are only paid on those goods that enter customs territory, so this type of imports is used in the “Import duties” section of this update.

Port district: Groups of air, land, and sea ports, typically in close geographical proximity to one another, categorized by CBP. The full list of districts and their ports are published in Schedule D, a statistical annex in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and can be found here.

Low-value shipments: Shipments whose value is so low that trade is estimated instead of being based on trade filings. These are shipments with a value of less than $2,500 for exports.

N.E.C.: “Not elsewhere classified”

Y/Y difference: The change from the same month one year prior.


Adjustments


Census basis: All data on the international trade of goods comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, which gathers data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Canadian Customs, and Statistics Canada. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) makes some adjustments to this data to create the headline trade figures shown in the section above, such as including nonmonetary gold trade, goods procured in foreign ports by U.S. carriers, goods procured in U.S. ports by foreign carriers, imports by U.S. military agencies, and more. The full list of adjustments can be found here.


  • In May, adjustments to exports amounted to $2.06 billion, or 0.01 percent.

  • In May, adjustments to imports amounted to $2.65 billion, or 0.01 percent.

  • Therefore, in total, the trade balance figure for May adjusted by BEA is $592 million higher than the respective Census basis figure.


  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, adjustments to exports amounted to $11.78 billion, or 0.01 percent.

  • Over the 12 months through May 2026, adjustments to imports amounted to $39.59 billion, or 0.01 percent.

  • Therefore, in total, the trade balance figure for the past 12 months adjusted by BEA is $27.82 billion higher than the respective Census basis figure.


Balance of payments: The data adjusted by the BEA to align with its concepts and definitions used in the international and national economic accounts.

Corrections to exports to Canada: The data for exports to Canada in the current year are estimates of late arrivals and corrections. These values are adjusted to the actual value annually.

Duty effect: JEC Republicans adjust the price index for imported goods from BLS, which excludes import duties, with the average applied duty rates derived from Census data to estimate post-duty price indexes. These rates are affected by changes in policy that impact the proportion of each good’s value collected by the government as a duty. Additionally, because these rates are averaged across broad categories of goods, changes can reflect the composition of goods imported within the category, for example a relative shift from goods with high duty rates toward those with lower duty rates. Therefore, the post-duty price index inflation reported may reflect not only policy changes but also shifts in the composition of imports.

Totals: Totals of values “from May 2025 to May 2026” are the sum over 12 months, inclusive of the latter month but not the former. Year-over-year values represent the change from May 2025 to May 2026.