The United States of America imported US$3.173 trillion worth of products from around the globe in 2023.
That dollar amount reflects a 23.8% increase compared to $2.564 trillion in 2019 but a -6% year-over-year downtick from $3.376 trillion during 2022.
From a continental perspective, 41.7% of America’s total imports by value in 2023 were purchased from providers in Asia. Fellow North American trade partners, Canada and Mexico, supplied 28.7% of imports sold to the U.S. while 22.8% worth originated from Europe.
At 4.8%, suppliers from Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean accounted for a smaller percentage of American import purchases. Even tinier amounts came from Africa (1.3%) and Oceania (0.7%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given America’s population of 335.8 million people, its total $3.173 trillion in 2023 imports translates to about $9,450 in yearly product demand from each U.S. resident. That dollar metric falls below the average $10,100 per person one year earlier.
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in America’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into the US.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$463.4 billion (14.6% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $459.2 billion (14.5%)
- Vehicles: $381 billion (12%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $266.6 billion (8.4%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $177.8 billion (5.6%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $118.3 billion (3.7%)
- Gems, precious metals: $89.5 billion (2.8%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $72.3 billion (2.3%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings: $69 billion (2.2%)
- Organic chemicals: $66.6 billion (2.1%)
The above product categories account for over two-thirds (68.2%) of total U.S. imports during 2023.
America’s imports of vehicles the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 product categories, up 15.6% from 2022 to 2023.
In second place were U.S. imports of pharmaceutical products (up 7.8%).
The mildest year-over-year gain was the 2.9% advance for imported optical, technical and medical apparatus.
Among the decliners, the strongest percentage drops were incurred for American spending on imported furniture, bedding, lighting, signs and prefabricated buildings (down -20.4% from 2022), plastics both as materials and items made from plastic (down -19.5%) then mineral fuels including oil (down -17.4%).
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section America’s Most Valuable Import Products: Detailed further down near the bottom of this article and under the major sections below.
Major U.S. Imports of Electronics Products
In 2023, American importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics equipment.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$117.1 billion (down -5.9% from 2022)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $35.8 billion (down -17.5%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $29.7 billion (up 2%)
- Electric storage batteries: $29.3 billion (up 26.2%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $26.8 billion (up 18.3%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $26.1 billion (up 51.9%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $20.7 billion (down -16.7%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $18.6 billion (up 16.5%)
- Electrical machinery: $16 billion (down -6.4%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $13.6 billion (down -4.6%)
Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 51.9%), electric storage batteries (up 26.2%) then electrical converters and power units (up 18.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
Major U.S. Imports of Machinery Products Including Computers
In 2023, American importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$103.2 billion (down -15.4% from 2022)
- Computer parts, accessories: $32.1 billion (down -4.3%)
- Turbo-jets: $28.5 billion (up 21.1%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $17 billion (down -2.5%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $14.4 billion (down -3.5%)
- Air conditioners: $13.9 billion (up 3.6%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $13.7 billion (up 3.1%)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $13.5 billion (up 31.9%)
- Printing machinery: $13.23 billion (down -15.4%)
- Refrigerators, freezers: $13.17 billion (down -4.2%)
Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of heavy machinery including bulldozers, excavators and road rollers (up 31.9%), turbo-jets (up 21.1%) then air conditioners (up 3.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among U.S. businesses and consumers.
Major U.S. Imports of Vehicles Plus Related Products
In 2023, American importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$208 billion (up 25.2% from 2022)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $85.5 billion (up 3.5%)
- Trucks: $43.5 billion (up 24.4%)
- Tractors: $19.4 billion (up 5%)
- Trailers: $6.8 billion (up 2.9%)
- Motorcycles: $4.1 billion (down -16.1%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $1.6 billion (down -28.1%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $1.4 billion (up 40.6%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $1.2 billion (down -41.5%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $1.16 billion (up 80.5%)
Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 80.5%), special purpose vehicles (up 40.6%), cars (up 25.2%) then trucks (up 24.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among U.S. businesses and consumers.
Major U.S. Imports of Mineral Fuels Plus Related Products
In 2023, American importers spent the most on the following subcategories of mineral fuels and related products.
- Crude oil: US$165.3 billion (down -16.6% from 2022)
- Processed petroleum oils: $66.2 billion (down -16.5%)
- Petroleum gases: $14.3 billion (down -29%)
- Electrical energy: $3.4 billion (down -22.2%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $2.7 billion (down -25%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $922 million (down -24.6%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $572.5 million (down -22.4%)
- Peat: $458.8 million (down -8.4%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $316 million (down -46.2%)
- Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $180.2 million (down -5.5%)
Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (down -5.5%) and peat dropped at the slowest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported pharmaceuticals among U.S. businesses and consumers.
America’s Most Valuable Import Products: Detailed List
The following listing highlights 20 of America’s most in-demand imported goods during 2023.
Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2022.
- Cars: US$208 billion (up 25.2% from 2022)
- Crude oil: $165.3 billion (down -16.6%)
- Phone devices including smartphones: $117.1 billion (down -5.9%)
- Computers including optical readers: $103.2 billion (down -15.4%)
- Medications in dosage: $86.9 billion (down -4.8%)
- Automotive parts, accessories: $85.5 billion (up 3.5%)
- Blood: $81.7 billion (up 26.9%)
- Refined petroleum oils: $66.2 billion (down -16.5%)
- Trucks: $43.5 billion (up 24.4%)
- Medical, dental or veterinarian appliances: $37.5 billion (up 8.7%)
- Electronic integrated circuits, microassemblies: $35.8 billion (down -17.5%)
- Office machinery parts: $32.1 billion (down -4.3%)
- Insulated wire, cable: $29.7 billion (up 2%)
- Electric storage batteries, parts: $29.3 billion (up 26.2%)
- Turbojets, parts: $28.5 billion (up 21.1%)
- Gas turbines, parts: $26.8 billion (up 18.3%)
- Photosensive solar semiconductors: $26.1 billion (up 51.9%)
- Miscellaneous furniture, parts: $24.8 billion (down -21.1%)
- Seats: $24 billion (down -12.3%)
- Television receivers, video monitors: $20.7 billion (down -16.7%)
These 20 top imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$1.273 trillion or more than two-fifths (41.3%) by value for all spending on imported products by the United States during 2023.
See also United States Top 10 Exports, America’s Top Trading Partners, Top United States Trade Balances and America’s Top 20 Export States and United States Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 15, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 15, 2024
USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on March 15, 2024
