Puerto Rico: Price Movements of Top Exports and
Other Highlights
April 2017
www.bls.gov/mxp
The import and export price indexes for the United States include
imports and exports traded by Puerto Rico and other U.S.
territories. In 2016, total exports for Puerto Rico were just under
$20.0 billion. In the first quarter of 2017, pharmaceutical and
medicine manufacturing export prices, the largest industry by
trade value, decreased 2.9 percent. The price indexes for export
basic chemical manufacturing and medical equipment and
supplies manufacturing increased over the same period.
Meanwhile, overall manufacturing export prices increased 0.5
percent.
Top Puerto Rico Exports by Trade Dollar
 In 2016, pharmaceutical and medicine
Billions of Dollars
$2.1
Pharmaceutical and
Medicine Manufacturing
$1.6
Basic Chemical
Manufacturing
$1.8
Medical Equipment and
Supplies Manufacturing
$14.5
All Other Manufacturing
Total Puerto Rico Exports by Trade Dollar Value, 2016: $20.0 billion
manufacturing was the largest export for
Puerto Rico ($14.5 billion), comprising
72.4 percent of total exports.
 Basic chemical manufacturing was the
second largest export in 2016, with a total
of $1.8 billion in trade value, representing
9.2 percent of total exports.
 The third largest export industry for
Puerto Rico in 2016 was medical
equipment and supplies manufacturing
with an export trade value of $1.6 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics.
U.S. Export Price Indexes: Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
 The price index for export pharmaceutical and
medicine manufacturing decreased 2.9 percent
in the first quarter of 2017. In January, the index
fell 3.1 percent, the largest monthly decline since
the index began in December 2005.
 Since March 2016, pharmaceutical and medicine
manufacturing prices fell 2.1 percent, compared
to a 2.3-percent rise in manufacturing prices.
 Overall manufacturing export prices recorded
the largest 12-month increase since the index
advanced 2.7 percent for the year ended in
March 2012.
Import/Export Price Indexes (MXP) and Puerto Rico Highlights
www.bls.gov/mxp
U.S. Export Price Indexes: Basic Chemical Manufacturing
 The price index for basic chemical manufacturing
exports rose 1.6 percent for the 3 months ended
in March.
 Over the past 12 months, export prices for basic
chemical manufacturing rose 6.8 percent,
matching the largest year-over-year increase
since a 7.5-percent increase in February 2012.
 Advances in petroleum prices contributed
greatly to basic chemical manufacturing prices
over the past 12 months. In February, chemical
prices advanced 2.6 percent, the largest monthly
increase since a 3.0-percent rise in April 2016.
U.S. Export Price Indexes: Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing
 Export medical equipment and supplies
manufacturing prices increased 0.8 percent for
the 3-month period ended in March, the
largest 3-month rise since a 1.0-percent
advance in August 2015.
 In February, the price index for medical
equipment and supplies manufacturing rose
0.6 percent, the largest monthly increase since
a 1.8-percent rise in June 2015.
 The export price index for medical equipment
and supplies manufacturing declined 1.9 percent
for the 12 months ended in March.
Top Six Exporting States and Territories for Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing, 2016
 In 2016, the United States exported over $57.5
billion of pharmaceutical and medicine
manufacturing products.
 Puerto Rico was the top exporter, making up
25.2 percent of the U.S. total.
 Indiana and California were the next largest
exporters of pharmaceutical and medicine
manufacturing products with $6.9 billion and
$6.7 billion, respectively.
New York-New Jersey Information Office • [email protected] • www.bls.gov/regions/new-york-new-jersey • 646-264-3600