trade surplus
11
3.5
- noun
- /treɪd ˈsɜrpləs/
- Specialized
:
superávit comercial
- Between 2003 and 2004, Brazil's full-year trade surplus increased from US$24.8 billion to US$33.7 billion.
- a huge trade surplus
- a large trade surplus
- run a trade surplus
They started to run a very large current trade surplus and a current account surplus.
- They started to run a very large current trade surplus and a current account surplus.
- the US was running a large trade surplus at the time, exporting much more than they imported, not unlike what China does today.
- Or it can be grown through increased trade surpluses which the rest of the world in.
- And we were a trade surplus until the Vietnam War, the Vietnam War.
Examples
-
As China's global trade surplus mounts, so does pressure for it to revalue its currency.
Academic text (2007) -
Unlike China, Taiwan maintains a trade surplus with Latin America.
Academic text (1997) -
Now, China has such a large trade surplus with the United States.
-
If you look at this figure, you see the trade surplus is going down.
Academic text (1997) -
We now have a huge trade surplus, so I can at least point to that.
Academic text (1997) -
As with most other countries and regions, Japan runs a large trade surplus with Africa.
Academic text (1991) -
The growing Chinese trade surplus has actually produced numerous benefits for the world economy and for U.S. corporations and consumers.
Academic text (2008) -
In recent years, Africa has collectively maintained a small trade surplus with China, thanks primarily to large oil exports from several countries.
Academic text (2009) -
From 1980 through 1986, Bolivia consistently ran a trade surplus.
Academic text (1994) -
In 2020, the country achieved a significant trade surplus due to increased demand for its exports.
Synonyms
192
3.1
An amount that is more than what is needed
Antonyms
How Positive
- Specialized
11
3.5
- Specialized
2
4.4
- Specialized
38
4.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'trade' (buying and selling across borders) plus 'surplus' (an excess) yields the idea of an excess in trade — i.e. exports exceeding imports. This is a common, cross-linguistic economic phrase and follows ordinary noun-noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words will very likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Trade surplus comes from the words trade (buying and selling between countries) and surplus (more than you need). Imagine a country that sells more goods to other countries than it buys from them, so it has an extra amount. That's why trade surplus means 'exports exceed imports'.