03/28/2024

Reports » Trade Reports

California Trade Report for June 2020

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

As measured by trade with China, the June numbers show a substantial easing of the previous global supply disruptions that began with the closures in China. As shown in the table below, goods trade with China, Hong Kong, and Macau through the state’s ports in June were substantially back to their levels of a year ago following on the deep cuts in the prior two months. Overall levels, however, were near the 2016 levels and still down substantially from the previous high levels in June 2018.

Trade through California Ports ($ billion):
China, Hong Kong, Macau
June 2019 June 2020 Change
Exports $3.6 $3.6 -0.1%
Imports 17.4 17.5 0.7%
Total Trade Activity $21.0 $21.1 0.6%

Overall trade patterns have also been largely stable. As shown below, the share of US exports to China through the California ports is up slightly, but imports and total goods trade were at the 2016 levels.

Share of Goods through US Ports

17.5%
CA Share of Total Trade
Through US Ports

The share of total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged up to 17.48% (12 month moving average; compared to 17.43% in May 2020 and 17.94% in Jun 2019).

California moved to the #1 state, ahead of Texas with 17.45% (compared to 17.51% in May 2020 and 17.71% in Jun 2019). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 30.33% (compared to 30.23% in May 2020 and 29.56% in Jun 2019). The state’s continued lead in this area forms the trade-related base for one of California’s largest centers of middle-class, blue-collar jobs. Transportation & Warehousing alone provided 609,600 jobs in Jun (down from 635,000 in Jun 2019), paying an average annual salary of $62.0k. This employment base in turn supports additional blue-collar and white-collar jobs in a range of other industries.

California Goods Exports Decrease

-$2.3
Billion in Exports

Total California goods exports were down $2.3 billion from Jun 2019 (down 16.6%). California remained in 2nd place with 10.63% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas at 20.23%.

California's Balance for Goods Trade

-$20.7
Billion of Goods Trade

California’s balance of goods trade activity through state businesses narrowed to -$20.7 billion, compared to a level of -$21.3 billion in Jun 2019. California trade accounted for 28% of the US trade deficit in goods in Jun 2020.

Top 20 Exports, June 2020

Top 20 exports by value are shown below, along with the change from Jun 2019.

By shipping weight (vessel and air total), the leading export was Waste & Scrap at 0.8 billion kg (33% of total exports), followed by Petroleum & Coal Products at 0.6 billion kg (23%), and Other Agricultural Products at 0.2 billion kg (8%).

Commodity June 2020 Exports ($b.) Change from June 2019
Semiconductors & Other Electronic Components $1.0 5.5%
Navigational/measuring/medical/control Instrument 0.8 -5.4%
Industrial Machinery 0.8 33.7%
Computer Equipment 0.6 -7.1%
Fruits & Tree Nuts 0.6 -15.8%
Pharmaceuticals & Medicines 0.6 -5.7%
Aerospace Products & Parts 0.5 -25.4%
Communications Equipment 0.5 -33.2%
Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities 0.4 -49.4%
Waste & Scrap 0.4 10.4%
Medical Equipment & Supplies 0.4 -35.1%
Electrical Equipment & Components, Nesoi 0.3 -4.6%
Other General Purpose Machinery 0.2 -13.0%
Motor Vehicles 0.2 -24.9%
Plastics Products 0.2 -0.3%
Foods, Nesoi 0.2 4.0%
Basic Chemicals 0.2 1.3%
Commercial & Service Industry Machinery 0.2 -10.3%
Motor Vehicle Parts 0.2 -29.5%
Dairy Products 0.2 27.2%

Top 10 Export Markets, June 2020

Country June 2020 Exports ($b) Change from June 2019
Mexico $2.1 -1.5%
Canada 1.3 -15.8%
China 1.2 -6.6%
Korea, South 0.8 6.9%
Japan 0.7 -26.3%
Taiwan 0.6 3.9%
Germany 0.5 3.2%
Hong Kong 0.4 -46.7%
Netherlands 0.3 -33.1%
United Kingdom 0.3 -30.0%