What is the foreign trade balance. How is a country's trade balance measured? Foreign Trade Turnover Formula

Historically, foreign trade is the initial form. With its help, all national economies are linked into a single world economy. determines the division of labor between countries, which with the development of economic relations is increasingly improved and deepened.

Indicators play an important role foreign trade which includes the trade balance, receipts and payments for services, income from foreign investment, non-commercial payments, foreign exchange reserves, the movement of short-term and long-term capital.

The trade balance is determined by the ratio of exports and imports of goods. Due to the fact that the bulk is produced on credit, there are some differences between the indicators of trade produced during the relevant period and actual receipts and payments.

The economic significance of a country's trade deficit or asset balance depends on its place in the economic policy and on the nature of its links with partner countries. For states that lag behind the leaders in terms of economic development, the active trade balance becomes a source of foreign exchange earnings to pay for obligations to other countries and other items in the balance of payments.

Some developed industrial countries apply a surplus to create a second economy abroad. A passive trade balance is considered an undesirable phenomenon; this characteristic is a sign of a weak foreign economic position of the state. A passive balance is inherent in developing or backward countries that lack foreign exchange earnings. It has importance for industrial

Of course, a decline in exports as a result of a decrease in demand for the goods and services of one country in other states is a bad sign. However, if a negative trade balance occurs, for example, with an increase in the import of investment products, resulting in an increase in domestic production, then in this case a negative balance is not a reason for a negative assessment of the country's economic condition.

Thus, the deficit or surplus of the trade balance is estimated only on the basis of an analysis of the circumstances leading to such a result. For example, the formed positive balance in the trade balance Russian Federation is not a basis for an optimistic assessment of this situation. Due to the fact that the main export article of Russia is natural resources, raw materials, and not goods, are mainly exported from the country, we can talk about the low level of state production and the not the best state of the economy.

If the negative balance increases, then the trade balance worsens. This indicates that the country spends more money abroad than it receives, as a result, in the foreign exchange market, there is an increase in the supply of the national currency from the side of traders, and the demand for foreign money is growing. In this case, conditions are created for the emergence of trends towards a depreciation of the own currency. And, in the opposite case, with a positive trade balance, there are tendencies to increase the exchange rate of the national currency.

It is obvious that as a result of devaluation, the depreciation of the own currency, the activities of exporters are stimulated, and imports become less profitable. Thanks to this change in the exchange rate, prerequisites are created for an increase in export operations and a reduction in imports. As a result, there is a decrease in the negative and the emergence of a positive trade balance.

It is the ratio between the sum of the prices of goods exported outside given state, and the sum of the prices of goods imported into the territory of this state. Those. difference between export and import. If the sum of prices of exported goods exceeds the sum of prices of imported goods, then the trade balance is active (surplus), if imports exceed exports - passive (negative balance). A positive balance (or a decrease in the size of a negative balance) is a favorable factor for the growth of the national currency. It has a significant impact on the market. Its value is published on the third week of each month (usually on Thursday) at 08:30 EST (New York).

Merchandise Trade Deficit (Balance) - the balance of trade or otherwise the balance of trade in goods, for the United States for many years recent years this is a deficit, therefore, the reduction of Trade Deficit is often stipulated immediately. The Commodity Trade Report details monthly exports and imports of goods to the US. This is a very important indicator that characterizes both the net movement of goods and the monetary and foreign trade policy of the state. The indicator is measured as the difference between export and import in absolute terms in billion dollars: Merchandise Trade Deficit (USD bln.) = Export - Import.

Period

Source minimum

Normal minimum

Average

Normal maximum

Source maximum

Region
definitions

-$9.5 - +0.2 bn.

Recovery

-$9.3 - +0.4 bn.

Extension

1) By category of goods:
· Food (Food) +
· Raw materials & industrial supplies (Raw materials and industrial supplies) +
Consumer goods (Consumer goods) +
Autos (cars) +
Capital goods (Means of production) +
· Other merchandise.
or
Foods and Feeds+
Industrial Supplies+
· Capital Goods (Means of Production)+
· Ex Autos (Export of cars)+
Autos and Parts+
· Consumer Goods+
Ex Autos+
· Other Merchandise.

At the same time, particularly important components may be highlighted in official reports and subsequent analysis, for example,
Total Deficit (general deficit)
Ex Petroleum (gasoline export)
Ex Autos (car export)
2) By country:
Canada,
EMU,
U.K.,
Japan,
Mexico,
OPEC,
NICs,
Other Developing.

Report provided at 08:30 Washington DC or 16:30 Moscow time in the second half of each month by the Bureau of Statistics of the Commerce Department (Commerce Department, Census Bureau) for the month before last.

Relationship with other indicators. One of the few indicators that has not an indirect, but a direct impact on the exchange rate, since it reflects the movement of funds between countries for the goods and services provided. However, the paradox is that the reaction of the exchange rate to this report is minimal due to technical and structural reasons, namely: the report is too late from the time when the real movement values, in addition, the movement of capital, due to trade relations, is several times less than the movement of capital associated with the work of credit and stock markets, and the cycles of these two flows, as a rule, do not coincide. With an increase in the trade deficit, the demand for foreign currency increases and the local currency exchange rate falls. The trade balance is influenced by indicators of domestic demand, since they determine the dynamics of imports, as well as the exchange rate itself, which adjusts the nominal value of import receipts in local currency.

Features of the indicator behavior. For foreign exchange markets, the total balance is key indicator. At the beginning, exports are analyzed, because. it has a direct impact on the value of growth in the economy. Imports reflect the demand for goods in the US. The increase in imports reflects the formation of stocks, which may indicate a possible subsequent slow increase in sales. In the following, specific commodity groups. There are several special exports and imports that can significantly affect the trade balance. For example, oil in terms of imports (especially the increase in its price) and aviation in terms of exports. Depending on product categories, the growing deficit created by a small drop in exports could push fixed income markets in either direction. Unlike other sectors of the economy, there is no consistent relationship between the trade balance and the phases of the business cycle. During recessions in net exports, other indicators may either improve or worsen. The main reason is the different timing of business cycles in the US and abroad, as well as the length of the cycle changes in the US and abroad. Exports have shown consistent gains during the expansion phase of US business cycles, but this relationship is broken again during recessions and recoveries.

Answers:

The foreign trade balance of a country is the ratio between the sum of the prices of goods exported by any country or a group of countries and the sum of the prices of goods imported by them over a certain period of time, for example, for a year, quarter, month. The foreign trade balance includes goods transactions actually paid for and carried out on credit. The foreign trade balance is compiled for individual countries and for groups of states. The trade balance has its balance. The trade balance is an annual (quarterly or monthly) indicator of the country's foreign trade transactions. If the trade balance has a positive balance, this means that in monetary terms (the volume of goods is converted into money), more goods were sent abroad (exports) than received from other countries (imports). If the balance is negative, then the import of goods prevails over the export. A positive trade balance indicates the demand for the goods of a given country in the international market, as well as the fact that the country does not consume everything that it produces. A negative trade balance indicates that a country, in addition to its own goods, also consumes foreign goods.

The purpose of this article is to study theoretical aspects trade balance, its role, main articles and factors influencing it. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: - consider the concept and essence of the trade balance; - to study its main features.

  • Improving the formation of a capital repair fund in apartment buildings
  • Legal regulation of the issues of assessing the quality of public (municipal) services provided in Russia

The relevance of this topic cannot be overstated, because the trade balance is a mirror image of the economic state of the country. modern conditions difficult to predict or actively participate in the international monetary and financial system, if you do not take into account the role of the country's trade balance.

The purpose of this article is to study the theoretical aspects of the trade balance, its role, main items and factors influencing it.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

  • consider the concept and essence of the trade balance;
  • explore its main features

Trade balance(Trade Balance, TB) - part of the balance of payments that characterizes the country's trade relations with other states. Its components are export and import of goods. The balance of trade is the difference between the sum of exports and the sum of imports of a country's goods. The trade balance characterizes, first of all, the competitiveness of the country's goods abroad. The predominance of exports over imports (a positive trade balance) indicates that there is an influx of foreign currency into the country, and the national currency is rising. Conversely, the predominance of imports over exports (negative balance or trade deficit) means a low competitiveness of the country's goods abroad. (1, p.3)

The origin of the concept of "balance of payments", according to its modern understanding, can be considered the emergence of the term "balance of trade". It was first used by Edward Misselden in the treatise The Circle of Trade (1623) where the first calculations of the trade balance for England for 1621 are made.

The concept of "balance of trade" is further developed in the works of Thomas Mann. In the book "The Wealth of England in Foreign Trade" (1664), the author introduces the concept of "general balance of trade." T. Mann notes that deficits in foreign trade with some countries can be offset by a positive balance with other states, so the assessment of foreign trade activity should be carried out on the basis of the overall trade balance.

The term " payment balance” was first used by the English economist, one of the largest representatives of late mercantilism (from Italian mercante - merchant, merchant), the first school of bourgeois political economy) James Stuart (1712-80). In his Study on the Principles of Political Economy (1767), he was the first to point out and discuss in detail the relationship between foreign trade and the movement of capital. D. Stewart defines the balance of payments as an independent concept, which consists of (7, p. 57):

  1. Expenses of citizens abroad.
  2. Debt payments, principal and interest to foreigners.
  3. Providing loans to other countries.

The role of the trade balance in the Russian economy

In Russia, a positive trade balance has been observed throughout the history of the existence of statistics. The attitude to a country's trade surplus or deficit depends on a number of factors that determine the position of this country in the world economy, the characteristics of business relations with partners, characteristics and specific gravity main items of the trade balance, etc.

Thus, the attitude to the positive trade balance in Russia is rather contradictory. Despite the growing gap between exports over imports, which forms a positive trade balance, the qualitative characteristics of this surplus cannot but cause concern for economists for at least a decade.

The main source of the surplus and the main export item are natural resources, which are actively exported from Russia. And the specific growth of exports natural resources shows growth dynamics over time statistical observation. As we can see, the quantitative growth of exports has been observed over the past decade. The fall in exports and imports of goods in monetary terms in 2009 was due to the active phase of the global financial and economic crisis, but within 2 years the fall was won back, and trade indicators in 2011 reached record levels. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that, as such, the export of natural resources did not fall quantitatively during the crisis. (Retelling of source 2, p. 15)

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that the trade balance is one of the main tools for macroeconomic analysis and forecasting.

Balance of trade - the ratio between the sum of the prices of goods exported by any country, or a group of countries, and the sum of the prices of goods imported by them for a certain period of time, for example, for a year, quarter, month. In other words, the balance of trade is the export and import of a country for a certain period or date.

If the value of the export of goods of a given country exceeds the value of their import, then the trade balance is active. If the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, then such a trade balance is passive. If the cost of export and import coincides, a net balance is formed. A country with a passive trade balance must cover the deficit by spending various balance of payments receipts, in particular income from transportation on its means of transport or through its territory of foreign goods, interest and dividends from investments abroad, inflow of foreign capital, foreign loans, use of the reserve foreign currencies and the export of gold. The trade surplus largely characterizes the favorable economic situation this country is one of important indicators degree of dependence of its economy on foreign markets, from the state of the conjuncture, international competition, as well as political dependence on other states.

Balance of payments data reflect how trade with other countries developed during the reporting period, which directly affects the level of production, employment and consumption, how much income was received from non-residents and how much was paid to them. These data make it possible to trace the form in which foreign investment was attracted, whether the country's external debt was repaid in a timely manner or there were delays and its restructuring, as well as how residents invested in the economy of other countries, how the Central Bank eliminated payment imbalances by increasing or decreasing the amount their foreign currency reserves.

The balance of payments is actively used to determine fiscal and monetary policy, protectionist measures, as well as in making decisions on the regulation of the domestic foreign exchange market and the exchange rate. Based on the results of the balance of payments, further decisions are made in the field of the country's economic policy.

A distinctive feature of Russia from other countries with a transitive economy is its huge resource potential, which allows it to maintain an active current account balance, mainly due to a positive trade balance.

For Russia, the financing of the capital account deficit of the balance of payments is more relevant than the current account deficit. However, this cannot be called a plus for the economy, since the current account surplus is a reflection of Russia's low investment attractiveness.

Bibliography

  1. Litvintsev N.N. Trade balance. Textbook edited by Litvintsev 1st edition, 2010.240 p.
  2. Aleksashenko S. The landslide is over, the crisis continues // Questions of Economics. 2009. - No. 5. - S. 4 - 20.
  3. Buglay V. B., Litvintsev N. N. International economic relations: Proc. allowance / Ed. Litvintseva N.N. - 2nd ed. - M.: Finance and statistics, 2008. - 160 p.
  4. Bulletin of the Bank of Russia. 2012. - No. 48 - 49.
  5. Zhuravlev S. Stop without demand // Expert. 2012. - No. 2. - S. 28 - 33.
  6. Ivashevsky S. N. Macroeconomics.—Moscow, 2010
  7. History of Economic Thought. /Under. ed. V. Avtonomova, O. Ananyina, N. Makasheva: tutorial. - M.: INFRA-M, 2007. - 784 p.

Foreign trade is evaluated using the basic concepts of exports, imports and foreign trade turnover.

— this is the amount of goods (in natural or value terms) exported from the country.

- this is the amount of goods (in physical or value terms) imported into the country from abroad.

Foreign trade turnover is the sum of a country's exports and imports.

Foreign Trade Turnover Formula

Foreign trade turnover = Export + Import.

At the same time, it should be remembered that the country's foreign trade turnover is calculated in value units, since it includes heterogeneous goods that are not comparable in physical terms. By individual goods it is possible to measure exports and imports in natural units (pieces, tons, meters).

Foreign trade balance formula

A very important concept is the balance of foreign trade.

Balance of foreign trade = Export - Import.

The balance of foreign trade can be positive or negative and rarely goes to zero. Accordingly, we can talk about positive or negative country's trade balance. A negative trade balance means the emergence of a passive trade balance. Conversely, a positive balance characterizes the active trade balance of the country.

World export growth rate

To analyze the development of such a multifaceted phenomenon as foreign trade, a system of indicators is used. Some indicators reflect the growth rate of world trade. These, for example, include the indicator of the growth rate of world exports (Te):

Te \u003d (Ea: Eo) x 100%,

  • E1 - export of the current period,
  • E0 - base period export.
  • In addition, a number of indicators are used to characterize the dependence of the country's economy on foreign trade:

Export quota (Ke):

Ke \u003d (E / GDP) x 100%,

  • E is the value of exports;
  • GDP is the country's gross domestic product for a year.

Import quota (Ki):

Ki \u003d (I / GDP) x 100%,

  • where I is the cost of imports.