HSBC Global Connections is bullish on international business and sees some hot ideas for U.S. exporters for 2012 and beyond.

HSBC forecasts global trade to grow at an annual rate of 3.78 percent in the next five years, with growth accelerating as early as 2014.

From 2017 to 2021, HSBC expects global trade to grow at an annual rate of 6.23 percent.

For the U.S., HSBC expects trade growth to be 1.95 percent annually over the next five years and 5.70 percent annually from 2017 to 2021.

Chart from HSBC Global Connections Trade Forecast

Some U.S. international businesses, if they export to hot countries and sectors, can potentially achieve higher rates of growth.

The fastest growing major U.S. export partners include India, Brazil and Hong Kong. Emerging market export partners like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Vietnam and Bolivia are expected to grow at even faster rates.

Africa, with its growing demand (particular for infrastructure projects), represents a major growing market for U.S. international businesses, according to HSBC.

HSBC also listed specific hot sectors for various export partners.

- Oils petroleum, bituminous, distillates, except crude exports are expected to grow at an annual rate of 16.09 percent to Brazil, 15.79 percent to Colombia and 12.52 percent to France for the next five years

- Gold, unwrought, semi-manufactured, powder form exports to India are expected to grow at an annual rate of 15.51 percent over the next five years

- Waste or scrap of precious metal exports to Switzerland are expected to grow at an annual rate of 14.85 percent in the next five years

- Fertilizer mixtures in packs of >10kg exports to India are expected to grow at an annual rate of 14.46 percent in the next five years

- Television receivers, video monitors, projectors exports to Mexico are expected to grow at an annual rate of 13.24 percent in the next five years

- Electric apparatus for line telephony, telegraphy exports to Brazil are expected to grow at an annual rate of 12.98 percent in the next five years

- Medicaments, therapeutic, prophylactic use, in dosage exports to Spain are expected to grow at an annual rate of 12.90 percent in the next five years

- Printing and ancillary machinery exports to Mexico are expected to grow at an annual rate of 12.12 percent in the next five years

- Jewelry exports to Hong Kong are expected to grow at an annual rate of 11.03 percent in the next five years

Rwanda Mexico India Ethiopia