Usa: trade deficit down in March

In March, the US trade deficit dropped to 55 billion dollars, the lowest level of the last six months (-9.2%, whereas in February it stood at a record 60.6 billion dollars). The unvarying negative balance is due to imports of 157.2 billion dollars (-2.5%) and exports which amounted to 102.2 billion dollars (+1.5%).

On the imports side, oil is still the key item at 13.4 billion dollars (+12.8%), corresponding to 325.98 billion barrels a month, but there was a drop in the importation of cars and certain Chinese textile goods; consumer goods have also fallen by 6.8% and machinery by 1.1%.

With regard to exports, the performance of planes for commercial purposes (+27%), equipment, plant and semiconductors for telecommunications was very interesting.

Data on the main partner countries show that for the second month the Chinese wave has slowed down (-7%), even though the Asian giant's positive balance for the first quarter grew by around 40% compared to the same period in 2004.

Italian exports during the first quarter of the year were 7.3 billion dollars, and imports amounted to 2.9 billion dollars: at 4.4 billion dollars, the positive balance remains very favorable for Italy. Italy's share of the USA's world imports is equal to 1.91%.

Roberto Luongo, director of the North American network of Ice, commented: 'Italian companies have handled the euro-dollar exchange rate intelligently. Instead of continuing to keep up with daily rates, they have adopted a price policy that has guaranteed stability, even if profit margins were reduced when the euro was worth around 1.35 dollars. Now that we have returned to below 1.30, the situation has improved'.

'Today's data also show that Italian companies have been able to take advantage of the strong euro to take better root in the American territory', Luongo added, 'and to increase their distribution networks'.

(Source: Ice)