I run a trading company in Indonesia. 
My quetions are:
1. I want to know each country informations, about it's abundance/lack
of natural resources or commodity?
2. I also want to know each country largest import/export commodity or resources?
3. I also want to know about each country most wanted commodity or
natural resources?
I'd tried to find out in google search engine, i couldn't find answers
that satisfied me.
Thank you for Google Team.

Hi! Thanks for the question.

It is really quite a challenge to get to the specific answer of your
question just through simple searches since most of the data is buried
within specialized databases. Since the countries mentioned here are
numerous I would just point you to the specific pages on how to get
the data.

Our first stop would be the CIA made World Fact Book website. This
resource will answer Question# 1 of your query. This is a tremendous
website that has profiles of different countries. Samples of the data
that would be of interest to you will be the following:

a.) Argentina:
Natural Resources: fertile plains of the Pampas, lead, zinc, tin,
copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Exports: edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles 
Imports: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
manufactures, plastics
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ar.html 

b.) China:
Natural Resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury,
tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite,
aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Exports: machinery and equipment; textiles and clothing, footwear,
toys and sporting goods; mineral fuels
Imports: machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, plastics, iron and
steel, chemicals
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html 

One-way to answer you?re questioning on what a particular country lack
is by looking at its imports. There are two elements to be considered
here.

1.) that the particular country imports a natural resource because it
lacks that particular material.

2.) that although a particular country has that natural resource, it
still import such commodity because the amount does not meet its needs
therefore we can still consider it as lacking for that material.
Please take note that we are only referencing here the CIA World
Factbook. This publication only mentions the major imports and not the
minor ones. It is highly possible that a country rich in a particular
resource will still import some of that product but only in minimal
form (We will discuss this even more in the second part of my answer).
These products are not the ones mentioned in the CIA resource.

A good example for this would be Saudi Arabia. The profile for Saudi
Arabia is as follows:

Saudi Arabia:
Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Exports: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Imports: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sa.html#Econ 


Due to its geography, Saudi Arabia is rich in oil so it exports them
but lacks enough food resources so the country resorts to importation.

In order to access other countries just select from the pull-down menu
on the main page. Here is the link.

CIA: The World Factbook
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html 


-------------------------------
The answer for Questions# 2 and 3 will be of much greater detail. I
found such detail from the international Trade Statistics website.
Again as a sample let?s look at the export and import figures of Saudi
Arabia.

Saudi Arabia: Export
http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er682.htm 

We can see that exports in petrol and oil products are way above than
other products. It will answer your questions largest export commodity
and most wanted commodity.

Saudi Arabia: Import
http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir682.htm 

On the import side of things, we can see that there is indeed a heavy
concentration for expenditures on food products. There is still some
importation in Oil and petrol but only very minimal.

In order to get the export and import figures for other countries,
please just click on the name for that particular nation.

Exports
http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/indexre.htm 

Imports
http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/indexri.htm

Search terms used:                           
?natural resources? world per country statistics
                 
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if any of the definitions are
unclear to you or you have further questions or if you would need
further information.
                         
Thanks for visiting us.                         
                         
Regards,                         
Easterangel-ga                         
Google Answers Researcher

---

Request for Answer Clarification by moizasia-ga on 10 Dec 2003 04:43 PST

Dear Sirs,
Thank you for your answer.
you didn't give me the answer i want, means your answers are not specific.
It's too broad.
Example for my need:
1. Country name
2. List of commodity/resource the country still in high demand
3. List of commodity/resource the country in overproduced
You list about 10 countries for me, as long as the country is
contributed to tremendous trade. For instant: China
Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 10 Dec 2003 05:24 PST

Hi moizasia-ga!

As I said the countries I mentioned are only samples of what are
inside the links. By clicking on the links you will see the write-ups
and figures for each country.

In your clarification you mentioned the word "overproduce". In your
original question there was no mention of overproduction. If what you
mean by "overproduction" and "abundance" are the same then I'm sory to
misinterpret it. But the ones mentioned as main antural resources in
the CIA World Factbook website is already an overabundance so they
tend to export. This is strenghtened by the figures shown at the
International Trade Statistics website. Again just click on the
country name to get the exact figures.

I hope that this clarification enhances my original answer.

Thanks!

Best Regards,
Easterangel-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 11 Dec 2003 01:16 PST

Hi!

Sorry about not listing the 10 countries you require. I will do them.
This may require a little more time. Thank you for your patience.

Easterangel

---

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 11 Dec 2003 02:22 PST

According to the US Census here are the top 10 countries in trade.

China:
Natural Resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury,
tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite,
aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Exports: machinery and equipment; textiles and clothing, footwear,
toys and sporting goods; mineral fuels
Imports: machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, plastics, iron and
steel, chemicals
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html 

Statistics: 
Imports; http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir156.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er156.htm

--------------------
Mexico
Natural Resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,
natural gas, timber
Exports: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton
Imports: metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural
machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts
for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir484.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er484.htm

---------------
Canada
Natural Resources: iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead,
molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal,
petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Exports: motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Imports: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ca.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir124.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er124.htm

--------------------
Japan
Natural Resources: negligible mineral resources, fish 

Exports: motor vehicles, semiconductors, office machinery, chemicals 

Imports: machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, raw materials (2001)

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ja.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir392.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er392.htm

---------------
Germany
Natural Resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium,
copper, natural gas, salt, nickel, arable land

Exports: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals 
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gm.html

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gm.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir276.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er276.htm

-----------------
UK
Natural Resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron
ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

Exports: manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco 

Imports: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs 

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir826.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er826.htm

----------------------
Republic of Korea
Natural Resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
hydropower potential

Exports: electronic products, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles,
steel, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish

Imports: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ks.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir410.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er410.htm

------------------
Taiwan
Natural Resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos

Exports: machinery and electrical equipment 54%, metals, textiles,
plastics, chemicals (2002)

Imports: machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precision
instruments (2002)
 
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tw.html

Statistics:
Imports:

-------------------
France
Natural Resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish 

Exports: machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

Imports: machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft,
plastics, chemicals

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/fr.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir251.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er251.htm

-------------------
Malaysia
Natural Resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite 

Exports: electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas,
wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals (2000)

Imports: electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics,
vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals (2000)

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/my.html

Statistics:
Imports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/ir458.htm
Exports: http://www.intracen.org/tradstat/sitc3-3d/er458.htm

Thanks!

---

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 11 Dec 2003 02:26 PST

Here are the export and import statistics for Taiwan.

Taiwan
http://www.washingtonstate.org.tw/English/taiwan-trade-economy/overview.htm