Net Exports

What Are Net Exports?

Net exports are a measure of a nation's total trade. The formula for net exports is a simple one: The value of a nation's total export goods and services minus the value of all the goods and services it imports equal its net exports.

A nation that has positive net exports enjoys a trade surplus, while negative net exports mean the nation has a trade deficit. A nation's net exports are thus a component of its overall balance of trade.

Understanding Net Exports

If a nation's currency is weak in relation to other currencies, the goods available for export become more competitive in international markets as their prices are relatively less expensive, which encourages positive net exports. If a country has a strong currency, its exports are more expensive and consumers will pass them up for cheaper local products, which can lead to negative net exports.

Net Exporter vs. Net Importer

Countries produce goods based on the resources and skilled labor capacity available. Whenever a country cannot produce a particular good efficiently but still wants it, that country can buy it from other countries who produce and sell that good via an import. Likewise, if other countries demand goods that your country is able to produce well, they may be available as an export to overseas markets.

A net exporter is a country, which in aggregate, sells more goods to foreign countries through trade than it brings in from abroad. Saudi Arabia and Canada are examples of net exporting countries because they have an abundance of oil which they then sell to other countries that are unable to meet the demand for energy. A net exporter, by definition, runs a current account surplus in aggregate.

A net importer, by contrast, is a country or territory whose value of imported goods and services is higher than its exported goods and services over a given period of time. A net importer, by definition, runs a current account deficit on whole. The United States tends to be a good example of a net importer, purchasing consumer products and raw material abroad from countries like China and India.

Note that a country may run either deficits or surpluses with individual countries or territories depending on the types of goods and services traded, the competitiveness of these goods and services, exchange rates, levels of government spending, trade barriers, etc. A net importer or net exporter looks at the overall balance of trade on net. It is also important to note that a country can be a net exporter in a certain area, while being a net importer in other areas. For example, Japan is a net exporter of electronic devices, but it must import oil from other countries to meet its needs. On the other hand, the United States is a net importer and runs a current account deficit as a result.

Some economists believe that running a consistent trade deficit harms a nation's economy by giving domestic producers an incentive to relocate overseas, creating pressure to devalue the nation's currency, and forcing a lowering of its interest rates. However, the United States has both the world's largest deficit and its largest gross domestic product (GDP). That suggests that running a trade deficit is not inevitably detrimental. The free market keeps trade imbalances in check with the aid of exchange rate adjustments.

Examples of Net Exports Numbers

According to World Bank data, the most prolific exporter by percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, for which the latest data is available, was Luxembourg at 209% (if you don't recall buying any products made in Luxembourg lately, you should know that its main trading partners are Germany, France, and Belgium, and it exports many products including steel and machinery, diamonds, chemicals, and food).

Other leading export countries in 2019 included:

The countries that exported the least as a share of GDP in 2020 included French Polynesia at 4.9%, Sudan at 7.7%, Ethiopia at 7.9%, and Nepal at 8.7%.

Net Export Deficits and Surpluses

To see examples of how nations calculate net exports, we first have to see the World Bank data on the imports side for the same year. For example, Ireland's imports came in at 112.5% as a percentage of GDP in 2019, while Luxembourg's imports totaled 173%. By subtracting those figures from the nations' total exports, we find that Ireland had net exports of 14.5% in 2019, while Luxembourg enjoyed net exports of 36%.

Sudan reported imports totaling 9% of GDP in 2019. Since its exports were only 7.7% of GDP, the nation's net exports were -1.3% as a percentage of GDP. Sudan thus had a small trade imbalance.

For 2019, the latest year available, the U.S. had net exports totaling 11.7% of GDP while it had net imports of 14.6% of GDP. So, the U.S. also had a trade deficit, with a deficit of -2.9%.

Factors Influencing Net Exports

For a country to be a net exporter, foremost it must have products that overseas buyers desire and the capacity to produce those goods relatively low enough cost that it makes sense for foreign consumers to import them as opposed to buy them domestically. A country will export when it has a comparative advantage in a product, or an ability to produce a particular good or service at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partners. Some countries will also enjoy an absolute advantage in certain products, especially rare raw materials or natural resources that are not readily found elsewhere. These will be highly demanded for export.

A country's currency exchange rate will also play an important role. If a currency loses value relative to other national monies, producers can produce and sell those goods abroad for relatively cheaper (and the reverse is true if the currency value rises). Because of this, a country's government or central bank of an exporting country may employ monetary policy tools if the currency starts to rise in global markets.

A third important factor is the existence of trade barriers such as quotas, tariffs, and other taxes. A trade barrier is any government law, regulation, policy, or practice that is designed to protect domestic products from foreign competition or artificially stimulate exports of particular domestic products. The most common foreign trade barriers are government-imposed measures and policies that restrict, prevent, or impede the international exchange of goods and services. The greater the trade barriers, both at home and internationally, the harder it is to export.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by net exports?

Net exports refer to a country's total value of exported goods and services that exceeds aggregate imports.

How do you calculate net exports?

For a given year, net exports = total exports - total imports

What are examples of net exports?

Examples are many. Saudi Arabia, for instance is a net exporter, largely because of its exports of crude oil. Australia is a net exporter, mostly from metals and ore.

Why are net exports included in GDP?

Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of an economy's size that accounts for the value of all goods produced within a nation's borders over the course of a year. Exports represent domestic production that is sold to other countries. That is why it is included in GDP.

Is the U.S. a next exporter?

No, the U.S. is historically a net importer and runs a standing trade deficit.