The U.S. Census Bureau [website] has released U.S. export statistics for 2008, totaling over $1.3 trillion, up 12% over 2007.

Among the top-level exports tracked, bearings ranked 76th and/or 136th.

Coming in at #76, with exports just over $3.3 billion, is the trade category: transmission shafts, bearings and gears.

However, the primary bearing commodity codes -- Ball Bearings, Roller Bearings and Finished Parts thereof -- came in at a more humbling 136th, exports hitting $1.95 billion for all of 2008.

That is a sharp increase of almost 13% over 2007, moving the bearing commodity code up the ladder slightly from its old place at #139.

The top ten U.S. exports, by commodity code, are:

1. Oil, not crude
2. Motor vehicles
3. Aircraft
4. Integrated circuits
5. Motor vehicle parts
6. Aircraft engines and parts
7. Misc. low-value exports
8. Computers and electronics
9. Aircraft parts
10. Telephone equipment