U.S. trade with Kuwait fell 4.9 percent through August

Kuwait’s trade with the United States decreased to $2.64 B through the first eight months of 2025, according to a WorldCity analysis of latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 4.9 percent below its total trade during the same time period last year ago. U.S. exports to Kuwait increased 6.26 percent while U.S. imports from Kuwait fell 19.27 percent. The U.S. surplus with Kuwait was $680.93 M.

Through August, the top five among the nation’s airports, seaports and border crossings were No. 1 Port of Houston; No. 2 Port of New Orleans; No. 3 Port of Corpus Christi, TX; No. 4 Port of Newark; and No. 5 Port Freeport, TX. During the same period the previous year, the top five were No. 1 Port of Corpus Christi, TX; No. 2 Port of Houston; No. 3 Port of Mobile, AL; No. 4 Chicago O'Hare International Airport and No. 5 Port Freeport, TX. In the current time period, the top five accounted for 42.79 percent of Kuwait’s U.S. trade.

Among those top five:

• Trade with No.1 Port of Houston fell 7.56 percent to $332.82 million.
  Exports rose 91.47 percent to $196.83 million. Imports fell 47.14 percent to $135.99 million.
• Trade with No.2 Port of New Orleans rose 526.91 percent to $227.29 million.
  Exports rose 1048 percent to $40.45 million. Imports rose 470.8 percent to $186.84 million.
• Trade with No.3 Port of Corpus Christi, TX fell 41.95 percent to $220.8 million.
  Exports totaled $23.66 million. Imports fell 48.17 percent to $197.13 million.
• Trade with No.4 Port of Newark rose 108.3 percent to $189.32 million.
  Exports rose 52.28 percent to $62.36 million. Imports rose 154.23 percent to $126.97 million.
• Trade with No.5 Port Freeport, TX rose 51.64 percent to $160.85 million.
  Exports rose 51.64 percent to $160.85 million. There were no imports.

Kuwait ranked No. 74 among the United States’ top trade partners through the current period. In the same period one year ago, it ranked No. 70.

Meanwhile, total U.S. trade with the world increased to $3.75 T, up 6.87 percent compared to the same period last year. The nation’s exports climbed 3.86 percent to $1.43 T; imports climbed 8.81 percent to $2.32 T. The nation’s top five countries so far this year, by value, are Mexico; Canada; China; Switzerland and Germany. The overall trade deficit was $892.21 B, up compared to the same period of last year when the deficit was $757.53 B.

The top five U.S. exports to Kuwait by value through August were the categories of Passenger vehicles; Chemical reaction accelerators; Medicines in individual dosages; Commercial vehicles; and Misc. aircraft parts, respectively. They accounted for 34.1 percent of total exports to Kuwait.

The value of the top five categories of U.S. imports from Kuwait –– Gasoline, other fuels; Oil; Returned exports, without change; Oils from coal tar; and Ferroalloys –– accounted for 99.54 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at U.S. exports to Kuwait:

• Passenger vehicles rose 16.95 percent compared to last year to $287.06 million.
• Chemical reaction accelerators rose 83.72 percent compared to last year to $91.08 million.
• Medicines in individual dosages fell 22.74 percent compared to last year to $69.76 million.
• Commercial vehicles rose 0.42 percent compared to last year to $59.71 million.
• Misc. aircraft parts rose 1405 percent compared to last year to $59.24 million.

Looking more closely at U.S. imports from Kuwait:

• Gasoline, other fuels fell 4.6 percent compared to last year to $691.37 million.
• Oil fell 41.52 percent compared to last year to $243.79 million.
• Returned exports, without change rose 5.5 percent compared to last year to $35.48 million.
• Oils from coal tar fell 84.72 percent compared to last year to $3.55 million.
• Ferroalloys rose 61.47 percent compared to last year to $2.48 million.

In the latest annual figures available, Kuwait recorded $4.06 B in trade with the United States. Total U.S. exports to Kuwait were $ 2.41 B and imports from Kuwait were $1.64 B. The U.S. surplus with Kuwait was $768.23 M.