Summary
- Exports
- $12.3billion
- Imports
- $7.9billion
- Trade balance
- +$4.4billion
Products
What it exports
Natural gas and LPG (26%) and alcohols (15.6%) together make up 41.6% of its exports.
What it imports
Refined petroleum (13.7%) and cars (5.4%) together make up 19.1% of its imports.
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
| Chapter | Exports | Imports |
|---|---|---|
| 27 · Oil, gas and coal | $5.8 billion | $1.1 billion |
| 29 · Organic chemicals | $2 billion | $35 million |
| 28 · Inorganic chemicals | $1.9 billion | $40 million |
| 72 · Iron and steel | $686 million | $176 million |
| 31 · Fertilizers | $419 million | $9 million |
| 22 · Beverages and spirits | $181 million | $76 million |
| 89 · Ships and boats | $169 million | $336 million |
| 73 · Iron and steel products | $157 million | $307 million |
| 19 · Baked goods and cereal products | $130 million | $82 million |
| 84 · Mechanical machinery | $104 million | $920 million |
| 21 · Food preparations | $96 million | $121 million |
| 48 · Paper and paperboard | $85 million | $170 million |
| 39 · Plastics | $84 million | $295 million |
| 20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables | $63 million | $99 million |
| 26 · Ores and slag | $52 million | $357 million |
| 85 · Electrical and electronic equipment | $48 million | $471 million |
| 24 · Tobacco | $40 million | $23 million |
| 25 · Salt, stone and cement | $28 million | $21 million |
| 38 · Miscellaneous chemicals | $27 million | $115 million |
| 70 · Glass | $26 million | $26 million |
| 90 · Precision and medical instruments | $26 million | $138 million |
| 18 · Cocoa and chocolate | $25 million | $26 million |
| 94 · Furniture and lighting | $25 million | $79 million |
| 34 · Soap and cleaning products | $23 million | $67 million |
| 03 · Fish and seafood | $22 million | $35 million |
| 71 · Gems and precious metals | $19 million | $5 million |
| 32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents | $17 million | $39 million |
| 49 · Books and printed matter | $12 million | $15 million |
| 15 · Fats and oils | $12 million | $76 million |
| 76 · Aluminum | $12 million | $53 million |
| 87 · Vehicles | $12 million | $628 million |
| 17 · Sugar and sweets | $11 million | $77 million |
| 33 · Perfumes and cosmetics | $11 million | $96 million |
| 74 · Copper | $10 million | $25 million |
| 16 · Prepared meat and fish | $9 million | $42 million |
| 88 · Aircraft and spacecraft | $8 million | $57 million |
| 44 · Wood | $6 million | $39 million |
| 86 · Railway equipment | $5 million | $115 million |
| 82 · Tools and cutlery | $5 million | $25 million |
| 62 · Woven clothing | $5 million | $36 million |
| 09 · Coffee, tea and spices | $4 million | $17 million |
| 07 · Vegetables | $4 million | $73 million |
| 23 · Animal feed and food waste | $4 million | $80 million |
| 04 · Dairy, eggs and honey | $4 million | $150 million |
| 11 · Milling products and malt | $3 million | $38 million |
| 30 · Pharmaceuticals | $3 million | $206 million |
| 68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles | $3 million | $19 million |
| 40 · Rubber | $2 million | $62 million |
| 55 · Synthetic staple fibers | $2 million | $13 million |
| 80 · Tin | $2 million | $69 thousand |
| 10 · Cereals | $2 million | $85 million |
| 83 · Miscellaneous metal goods | $2 million | $256 million |
| 63 · Home textiles and used clothing | $2 million | $23 million |
| 47 · Wood pulp | $2 million | $15 million |
| 08 · Fruit and nuts | $1 million | $44 million |
| 35 · Glues, starches and enzymes | $1 million | $10 million |
| 61 · Knitted clothing | $1 million | $23 million |
| 02 · Meat and offal | $1 million | $110 million |
| 69 · Ceramics | $1 million | $35 million |
| 42 · Leather goods and bags | $1 million | $15 million |
| 96 · Other manufactured goods | $956 thousand | $16 million |
| 12 · Oilseeds and grains | $931 thousand | $16 million |
| 56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope | $633 thousand | $5 million |
| 92 · Musical instruments | $619 thousand | $814 thousand |
| 64 · Footwear | $518 thousand | $29 million |
| 95 · Toys and sports gear | $506 thousand | $29 million |
| 52 · Cotton | $476 thousand | $2 million |
| 54 · Synthetic filaments | $447 thousand | $7 million |
| 97 · Art and antiques | $409 thousand | $380 thousand |
| 36 · Explosives and matches | $338 thousand | $3 million |
| 58 · Special fabrics and lace | $180 thousand | $3 million |
| 79 · Zinc | $172 thousand | $831 thousand |
| 60 · Knitted fabric | $151 thousand | $1 million |
| 75 · Nickel | $143 thousand | $1 million |
| 59 · Coated and technical textiles | $141 thousand | $4 million |
| 13 · Gums and plant extracts | $94 thousand | $2 million |
| 66 · Umbrellas and canes | $87 thousand | $1 million |
| 65 · Hats | $85 thousand | $3 million |
| 01 · Live animals | $83 thousand | $3 million |
| 37 · Photographic goods | $69 thousand | $1 million |
| 57 · Carpets and rugs | $69 thousand | $5 million |
| 78 · Lead | $63 thousand | $334 thousand |
| 53 · Other plant fibers | $32 thousand | $262 thousand |
| 91 · Watches and clocks | $31 thousand | $2 million |
| 05 · Other animal products | $27 thousand | $822 thousand |
| 67 · Feathers and artificial flowers | $26 thousand | $5 million |
| 51 · Wool | $13 thousand | $15 thousand |
| 06 · Live plants and flowers | $11 thousand | $3 million |
| 81 · Other base metals | $9 thousand | $645 thousand |
| 14 · Other plant products | $8 thousand | $44 thousand |
| 41 · Hides and leather | $4 thousand | $27 thousand |
| 93 · Weapons and ammunition | $3 thousand | $674 thousand |
| 46 · Wicker and basketware | $2 thousand | $146 thousand |
| 43 · Fur and fur goods | $2 thousand | $596 thousand |
| 50 · Silk | $798 | $22 thousand |
| 45 · Cork | $186 | $30 thousand |
Trading partners
The United States is its main destination (27.7% of exports) and source (30.5% of imports).
Who it sells to
| Partner | Value (USD billions) | Share | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3.4 | 27.7% | Sea |
| Netherlands | 0.64 | 5.2% | Sea |
| Chile | 0.52 | 4.2% | Sea |
| Barbados | 0.46 | 3.7% | Sea |
| Morocco | 0.44 | 3.6% | Sea |
| Guyana | 0.42 | 3.4% | Sea |
| Belgium | 0.42 | 3.4% | Sea |
| United Kingdom | 0.42 | 3.4% | Sea |
| Brazil | 0.41 | 3.4% | Sea |
| China | 0.4 | 3.3% | Sea |
Who it buys from
| Partner | Value (USD billions) | Share | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2.4 | 30.5% | Sea |
| China | 1.1 | 13.7% | Sea |
| United Kingdom | 0.44 | 5.6% | Sea |
| Brazil | 0.43 | 5.5% | Sea |
| Japan | 0.3 | 3.8% | Sea |
| Italy | 0.22 | 2.8% | Sea |
| Canada | 0.21 | 2.7% | Sea |
| Guyana | 0.19 | 2.4% | Sea |
| Germany | 0.18 | 2.3% | Sea |
| Mexico | 0.17 | 2.2% | Sea |
Overview 1995–2024
In 2024, Trinidad and Tobago accounted for 0.05% of world exports, compared with 0.05% in 1995.
Exports and imports
Exports grew 5-fold since 1995
USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).
- Exports 12.3
- Imports 7.9
- Balance +4.4
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Exports | Imports | Trade balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | $2.6 billion | $1.9 billion | $664 million |
| 1996 | $2.8 billion | $2.5 billion | $293 million |
| 1997 | $3.1 billion | $3.5 billion | -$469 million |
| 1998 | $2.7 billion | $3.4 billion | -$719 million |
| 1999 | $3.3 billion | $3 billion | $321 million |
| 2000 | $4.5 billion | $3.6 billion | $935 million |
| 2001 | $5.6 billion | $4.3 billion | $1.3 billion |
| 2002 | $4.6 billion | $3.9 billion | $689 million |
| 2003 | $7.3 billion | $4.3 billion | $3.1 billion |
| 2004 | $8.6 billion | $5.6 billion | $3 billion |
| 2005 | $11.9 billion | $6 billion | $6 billion |
| 2006 | $14.9 billion | $7 billion | $7.9 billion |
| 2007 | $16.7 billion | $7.8 billion | $8.9 billion |
| 2008 | $21.5 billion | $10 billion | $11.5 billion |
| 2009 | $13 billion | $7.2 billion | $5.8 billion |
| 2010 | $16.4 billion | $7.1 billion | $9.3 billion |
| 2011 | $20.3 billion | $10.2 billion | $10.1 billion |
| 2012 | $21.3 billion | $10.3 billion | $11 billion |
| 2013 | $22.2 billion | $12.2 billion | $10 billion |
| 2014 | $19.6 billion | $9.3 billion | $10.3 billion |
| 2015 | $14.3 billion | $9.9 billion | $4.3 billion |
| 2016 | $9.4 billion | $8.4 billion | $1.1 billion |
| 2017 | $10.9 billion | $7.6 billion | $3.3 billion |
| 2018 | $13.4 billion | $7.7 billion | $5.7 billion |
| 2019 | $11 billion | $6.6 billion | $4.4 billion |
| 2020 | $8 billion | $5.3 billion | $2.7 billion |
| 2021 | $11.9 billion | $6.1 billion | $5.8 billion |
| 2022 | $17.9 billion | $6.5 billion | $11.3 billion |
| 2023 | $12.3 billion | $9.8 billion | $2.5 billion |
| 2024 | $12.3 billion | $7.9 billion | $4.4 billion |
World rank
Trinidad and Tobago fell from 81st to 96th among the world's exporters
Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).
- 81st in 1995
- 96th in 2024
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 81st |
| 1996 | 82nd |
| 1997 | 83rd |
| 1998 | 84th |
| 1999 | 82nd |
| 2000 | 79th |
| 2001 | 75th |
| 2002 | 80th |
| 2003 | 75th |
| 2004 | 76th |
| 2005 | 71st |
| 2006 | 69th |
| 2007 | 70th |
| 2008 | 72nd |
| 2009 | 75th |
| 2010 | 75th |
| 2011 | 73rd |
| 2012 | 73rd |
| 2013 | 73rd |
| 2014 | 75th |
| 2015 | 80th |
| 2016 | 91st |
| 2017 | 89th |
| 2018 | 86th |
| 2019 | 92nd |
| 2020 | 99th |
| 2021 | 91st |
| 2022 | 83rd |
| 2023 | 96th |
| 2024 | 96th |
What it sells
Its top export group is still oil, gas and coal: 47% in 2024
% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.
- Other 9%
- Iron and steel products 1%
- Ships and boats 1%
- Beverages and spirits 1%
- Fertilizers 3%
- Iron and steel 6%
- Inorganic chemicals 15%
- Organic chemicals 16%
- Oil, gas and coal 47%
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Chapter | 1995 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Oil, gas and coal | 41.5% | 46.9% |
| Organic chemicals | 8.6% | 15.9% |
| Inorganic chemicals | 14.3% | 15.1% |
| Iron and steel | 9.6% | 5.6% |
| Fertilizers | 4.2% | 3.4% |
| Beverages and spirits | 3.8% | 1.5% |
| Ships and boats | 0.06% | 1.4% |
| Iron and steel products | 0.41% | 1.3% |
| Other | 17.4% | 9% |
Who it trades with
The United States went from 44% to 29% of Trinidad and Tobago's trade
% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.
- United States 29%
- China 7%
- United Kingdom 4%
- Brazil 4%
- Netherlands 4%
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Partner | 1995 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 43.7% | 28.8% |
| China | 0.52% | 7.3% |
| United Kingdom | 5.4% | 4.3% |
| Brazil | 2.8% | 4.2% |
| Netherlands | 1.8% | 3.9% |
Production hubs
Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)
- Point Lisas power station
- Columbus basin
- Trinidad basin
Sources and methodology
Sources and licenses
- CEPII BACI · Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0
- Climate TRACE · CC BY 4.0 (emissions by asset; the 3 largest per country are shown)
- Kummu et al., gridded GDP · CC BY 4.0 (hubs aggregated by this site)
- Natural Earth · Public domain
Methodology
Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.