The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Trinidadian/Tobagonian global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Trinidad and Tobago.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$4.2 billion (50.2% of total exports)
2. Organic chemicals: $1.5 billion (18.2%)
3. Inorganic chemicals: $1.2 billion (14.3%)
4. Iron, steel: $567.7 million (6.7%)
5. Fertilizers: $338.7 million (4%)
6. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $76.4 million (0.9%)
7. Cereal/milk preparations: $44 million (0.5%)
8. Fish: $38.5 million (0.5%)
9. Paper, paper items: $34.3 million (0.4%)
10. Miscellaneous food preparations: $25 million (0.3%)

Trinidad and Tobago’s top 10 exports are highly concentrated, accounting for 96% of the overall value of its global shipments.

Two top product categories increased in value from 2016 to 2017, namely organic chemicals (up 59.2%) trailed by iron and steel (up 49.9%).

Leading the year-over-year decliners were exported miscellaneous food preparations (down -41.9%), fish (down -41%) then cereal or milk preparations (down -35.8%).

Overall Trinidad and Tobago achieved a $3.1 billion trade surplus for 2017, up by 27.6% from 2016.

The following types of Trinidadian/Tobagonian product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.

In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$3.2 billion (Down by -11.4% since 2016)
2. Organic chemicals: $1.5 billion (Up by 60.5%)
3. Inorganic chemicals: $1.2 billion (Down by -3.4%)
4. Iron, steel: $452.5 million (Up by 59.9%)
5. Fertilizers: $334.7 million (Down by -0.6%)
6. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $23.1 million (Down by -22.6%)
7. Fish: $13.1 million (Down by -63.2%)
8. Gems, precious metals: $2 million (Reversing a -$14.5 million deficit)
9. Tobacco, manufactured substitutes: $741,000 (Down by -95.9%)
10. Nickel: $325,000 (Down by -58.1%)

Trinidad and Tobago has highly positive net exports in the international trade of petroleum gases and, to a lesser degree, refined petroleum oils. In turn, these cashflows indicate Trinidad and Tobago’s strong competitive advantages under the mineral fuels including oil product category.

Below are exports from Trinidad and Tobago that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Trinidad and Tobago’s goods trail Trinidadian/Tobagonian importer spending on foreign products.

1. Machinery including computers: -US$747.3 million (Down by -11.4% since 2016)
2. Vehicles : -$401.4 million (Down by -5.2%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: -$368.8 million (Down by -0.5%)
4. Ores, slag, ash: -$235.5 million (Up by 97.9%)
5. Articles of iron or steel: -$145.2 million (Down by -34.1%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: -$144 million (Down by -8.2%)
7. Dairy, eggs, honey: -$108.6 million (Up by 20%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$100.7 million (Down by -14.5%)
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: -$97.8 million (Up by 55.4%)
10. Meat: -$85.8 million (Up by 4%)

Trinidad and Tobago has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits under the machinery including computers category.

Trinidadian/Tobagonian Export Companies

Not one Trinidadian/Tobagonian corporation ranks among Forbes Global 2000.

Wikipedia lists exports-related companies from Trinidad and Tobago. Selected examples are shown below:

• Atlantic LNG (natural gas)
• Atlas Engineering Limited (construction materials)
• Bermudez Biscuit Company (confectionary foods)
• Carib Brewery (alcoholic beverages)
• Flavorite Ice Cream (dairy products)
• Kiss Baking Company Limited (baked goods)
• National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (natural gas)
• Petrotrin (oil, gas)
• S. M. Jaleel and Company (beverages)
• Solo Beverage Company (soft drinks)