US trade with sub-Saharan Africa rises by 18% to $95.2b in 2011

Total trade volumes between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) shot up by almost 18% in 2011, statistics from the International Trade Administration (ITA) of the US Department of Commerce has shown.

Both US exports to the region, and imports from SSA increased during the year.

US exports to SSA in 2011 increased by 23% and reached $21 billion while imports from SSA were up nearly 14% to hit $74.2 billion.

This expansion in US – SSA trade is commensurate with the overall growth of US trade with the world, which showed an increase of 16% in 2011, according to the ITA.

The top five SSA destinations for US exports were South Africa (29% increase since last year), Nigeria (18%), Angola (16%), Ghana (21%), and Ethiopia (-11%).

The US says its exports in machinery, vehicles, mineral fuels, cereals and aircraft drove the growth of exports to SSA.

The ITA stated that in Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana, imports of US vehicles and machinery increased substantially adding that “SSA share of the US export market is 1.4% of total US exports to the world” which was up from 1.3% in 2010.

By Ekow Quandzie