It doesn't have to import the bulk of its food, and when demand for agricultural commodities rises as incomes rise, Brazil is ready as the world's leading sugar, coffee, beef and chicken exporter.

FORBES: Resource Drivers

Even though Nigeria is such a big oil producer, for instance, its few refineries are so old and inefficient that it now has to import the bulk of its petrol and kerosene, a huge extra cost to business.

ECONOMIST: Nigeria

Import prices for miscellaneous manufactured articles, from which China derives the bulk of its trade surplus with the U.S., are still declining, despite the weaker dollar.

FORBES: Magazine Article