The trade balance is a record that measures the relationship between imports and exports in a particular area and period. The contrast between the two determines the balance, that is, the positive or negative difference in the balance of trade. The author’s resource is based on Franco-Spanish trade through the port of Bilbao between 1544 and 1550. In general terms, the balance of trade showed a clear trade deficit with Spain, with more materials and goods being bought from France than were sold to it. Depending on the nature of the trading company (own account, in company, or on behalf of others), the results, although they follow the same deficit trend, have different impacts. On behalf of others, products were exported for a total value of 1,430,522 maravedís, and 237,911,576 maravedís were imported; a negative balance of 236,481,054. All this shows the nature of the port of Bilbao based on transit trade, where the goods received were hardly retained and from where they were distributed to the rest of the Peninsula. A small amount of the large volume of imports was destined for the local Bilbao trade, while the bulk went to Navarre, La Rioja and Castile, and even to America via Seville.
Collection: Statistics
Project: 5. Power and powers in the history of Europe: oligarchies, political participation and democracy., 9. Travels and travelers: economic, social and cultural connections.
Chronology: XVI
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Statistics
Format: Table
Source: Bilbao, L. M., y Lanza García, P. (2009). "Entre Castilla y Francia: comercio y comerciantes en Bilbao a mediados del siglo XVI", en Revista de Historia Económica, vol. 27, nº 1, p. 132.
Language: Spanish
Date: 2009
Owner: Pablo Ballesta Fernández (Modernalia)
Copyright: ©Revista de Historia Económica ©Luis María Bilbao ©Ramón Lanza García
Abstract: A resource that reflects the economic nature of the port of Bilbao, which is a major importer of raw materials and products, with a high incidence of commercial companies working for others
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Tags
AméricaBalanza comercialCastillaComercioComercio internacionalConsumoEconomía locaEmpresa mercantilExportacionesHistoria EconómicaHistoria social del trabajoImportacionesLa RiojaMaterias primasnavarraProductosPuerto de BilbaoSevillaSiglo XVI
