Of the world's major trading partners, the U.S. is the only country whose share of exports from Sub-Saharan Africa has increased from 1996 to 2001.

• The U.S. share of exports of manufactured goods from Sub-Saharan Africa rose 8 percent, while the European Union's share declined by approximately 1.5 percent.
• U.S. growth in Sub-Saharan Africa exports is particularly notable in apparel, with an approximately 23 percent increase, while the European Union's share in apparel exports declined by nearly the same percent.

The U.S. also showed significant average annual import growth from Sub-Saharan Africa of 6.8 percent from 1996 to 2001.