AIA: U.S. Headed for Record Trade Surplus
Shipments and surplus up so far this year, but so too are early signs of slowdown.


U.S. aerospace manufacturers closed the books on last year headed for a record trade surplus, but the industry is showing early signs of a slowdown in orders and backlogs, according to the Aerospace Industries Association. Presenting the association’s annual Year-end Review on December 15, AIA chief David Melcher reported that the trade balance has grown by nearly $19 billion over the past five years to $62 billion and “is on a path this year to set a record surplus level.”