The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Trinidadian/Tobagonian global shipments during 2016. 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$3.6 billion (51.1% of total exports)
2. Inorganic chemicals: $1.3 billion (17.8%)
3. Organic chemicals: $1 billion (14.7%)
4. Iron, steel: $356.2 million (5%)
5. Fertilizers: $332.4 million (4.7%)
6. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $75 million (1.1%)
7. Fish: $63.6 million (0.9%)
8. Miscellaneous food preparations: $28 million (0.4%)
9. Cereal/milk preparations: $17.9 million (0.3%)
10. Paper, paper items: $17.2 million (0.2%)

Fish was the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories, up by 530.5% for the 7-year period starting in 2009.

In second place for improving export sales was inorganic chemicals which rose by 271.1%.

Trinidadian/Tobagonian organic chemicals posted the third-fastest gain in value up by 246.7%.

The leading decliner among the top 10 Trinidadian/Tobagonian export categories was paper and paper items, a category down by -72.1%.

Overall, Trinidad and Tobago achieved a $1.6 billion trade surplus for 2016 down by -27.8% from $2.2 billion in 2009.

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 is 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$2.8 billion (Down by -40.1% since 2009)
2. Inorganic chemicals: $1.2 billion (Up by 308.3%)
3. Organic chemicals: $1 billion (Up by 260.9%)
4. Fertilizers: $328.1 million (Up by 127.8%)
5. Iron, steel: $261.9 million (Up by 16.2%)
6. Fish: $41.9 million (Down by -586.5%)
7. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $12.4 million (Down by -24.5%)
8. Collector items, art, antiques: $1.7 million (Down by -45%)
9. Nickel: $803,000 (Down by -503.5%)
10. Tin: $97,000 (Down by -320.5%)

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$857.5 million (Down by -21.3% since 2009)
2. Vehicles : -$420.6 million (Up by 54.9%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: -$372.5 million (Up by 15.6%)
4. Ships, boats: -$265.4 million (Down by -414.5%)
5. Articles of iron or steel: -$208.1 million (Down by -46.3%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: -$161.9 million (Up by 21.4%)
7. Ores, slag, ash: -$119 million (Down by -222.7%)
8. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$113.9 million (Up by 40.8%)
9. Dairy, eggs, honey: -$91.9 million (Up by 25.2%)
10. Meat: -$82.5 million (Up by 67.1%)

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 for 2016.

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)