Americanimports totaled$2.614 trillion last year. Read the list below to find out which products made up the top 10 U.S. imports for 2018.
The following list details the top 10 U.S. imports in 2018 —ranking them in order of highest dollar value. America is among the largest importers in the world and the U.S. current trade deficit in physical goods and services was $621 billion. This means the goods importedinto the United States were over a half trillion dollars more than the value of exports.
What Are the Major U.S. Imports?
- Machinery (including computers and hardware)–$386.4 billion
- Electrical machinery –$367.1 billion
![What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports | Importing in the United States (1) What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports | Importing in the United States (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
- Vehicles and automobiles–$306.7 billion
- Minerals, fuels, and oil– $241.4 billion
- Pharmaceuticals –$116.3 billion
![What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports | Importing in the United States (2) What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports | Importing in the United States (2)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
- Medical equipment and supplies –$93.4 billion
- Furniture, Lighting, and Signs –$72.1 billion
- Plastics –$61.9 billion
![What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports | Importing in the United States (3) What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports | Importing in the United States (3)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
- Gems and precious metals –$60.8 billion
- Organic chemicals– $54.6 billion
The total value of U.S. Imports for 2018 is upby 7.5% since 2017.America’s population is 330 million people, and the total dollar value of every U.S. import translates to about $9,457 for every resident in the country.
Where Does the U.S. Get Most of its Imports?
The United States’ greatest trading partners are also those who provide the most of the country’s imports. Based solely on the strength of goods (not services), the most powerful nation in the world receives the most imports from China (18.2%), Mexico (14.4%), and Canada (12.7%). Rounding out the list of the top 10 United States imports are Japan, Germany, South Korea, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, accounting for approximately 23.9% of the rest of U.S.-bound imports.
What are the U.S. Imports and Exports?
The United States, as part of a greater global trade agreement through various treaties and governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), imports more goods and services than exports, leading to a trade deficit of over $600 billion.
The top imports are listed above. The United States’ top exports are as follows:
- Machinery (including computers and hardware) – $213.1 billion
- Minerals, fuels, and oil– $189.9 billion
- Electrical machinery and equipment– $176.1 billion
- Aircraft and spacecraft– $139.1 billion
- Vehicles and automobiles – $130.6 billion
- Medical equipment and supplies– $$89.6 billion
- Plastics – $66.5 billion
- Gems and precious metals – $63.8 billion
- Pharmaceuticals– $48.4 billion
- Organic chemicals– $40.2 billion
What Foods Does the U.S. Import?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, almost two-thirds of all agricultural imports include horticultural and tropical products like fruits, vegetables, nuts, wine, flowers, and hops. Other food products like sugar, coffee, cocoa, and rubber provide about 18% of all agricultural products brought into the United States each year.
Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Chile, and Brazil are the largest importers of American-made food products, including horticultural goods, sugar, and tropical products unique the North American climate. Nearly $14 billion in food goods go to these countries each year.
Note: this post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated to include new statistics and information.
FAQs
Imports The top imports of United States are Crude Petroleum ($199B), Cars ($159B), Broadcasting Equipment ($116B), Computers ($108B), and Packaged Medicaments ($91.3B), importing mostly from China ($551B), Canada ($438B), Mexico ($421B), Germany ($153B), and Japan ($137B).
What are the top 10 US importing countries? ›
- China. 541,531,352.24. 100.00.
- Mexico. 388,357,522.06. 100.00.
- Canada. 363,904,687.51. 100.00.
- Japan. 139,389,676.63. 100.00.
- Germany. 138,194,629.53. 100.00.
- Vietnam. 108,195,516.67. 100.00.
- Korea, Rep. 98,808,173.99. 100.00.
- Other Asia, nes. 80,736,678.18. 100.00.
Where does the US get most of its imports? ›
The top five suppliers of U.S. goods imports in 2022 were: China ($536.3 billion), Mexico ($454.8 billion), Canada ($436.6 billion), Japan ($148.1 billion), and Germany ($146.6 billion).
What are the top 5 imports? ›
Canada Imports – Top Categories
- Cars—$28 billion (USD)
- Car parts and accessories—$20 billion (USD)
- Trucks—$15 billion (USD)
- Crude oil—$14 billion (USD)
- Processed petroleum oil—$14 billion (USD)
- Phones—$11 billion (USD)
- Computers—$9 billion (USD)
- Medications—$8 billion (USD)
What is most import in USA? ›
The top five imports of the US are electrical machinery, vehicles, crude oil, pharmaceuticals, and plastic articles. These imports play a vital role in the US economy, providing consumers with a wide variety of goods and services, supporting various domestic industries, and fueling economic growth.
What does the US mainly import? ›
Imported goods include a wide variety of items including merchandise, raw materials, and supplies, including petroleum and related products. Computers and electronic products were the most valuable imports, valued at nearly 500 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.
What food does the US import the most? ›
The most imported vegetables in the United States
Vegetable | Imported From | Total Market Value (USD) |
---|
Cucumbers | Mexico | $607 million |
Cauliflower, Broccoli | Mexico | $301 million |
Asparagus | Mexico | $386 million |
Onions, Shallots | Mexico | $384 million |
7 more rows
What are some of the US fastest growing imports? ›
Fastest Growing Industries by Imports in the US in 2024
- Frozen Food Production in the US. ...
- Ship Building in the US. ...
- Wineries in the US. ...
- Cider Production in the US. ...
- Meat Alternatives Production in the US. ...
- Colocation Facilities in the US. ...
- Stone Mining in the US. ...
- Helium Production in the US. Growth in Imports for 2024: 7.9%
What top 3 countries are US imports bought from? ›
United States Imports By Country | Value | Year |
---|
China | $448.02B | 2023 |
Canada | $429.60B | 2023 |
Germany | $162.96B | 2023 |
Japan | $151.58B | 2023 |
159 more rows
What countries does the US rely on? ›
Year-to-Date Total Trade
Rank | Country | Percent of Total Trade |
---|
1 | China | 16.9% |
2 | Canada | 14.8% |
3 | Mexico | 14.2% |
4 | Japan | 5.1% |
13 more rowsMar 20, 2024
U.S. petroleum refineries make gasoline (and other petroleum products) from crude oil and other liquids that are produced in the United States or imported from other countries. The specific sources of the crude oil and other liquids used at refineries may vary.
What is our #1 import? ›
While the Bureau of Economic Analysis divides imports into six categories, the three largest are: capital goods, consumer goods, and industrial supplies.In May 2022: Computers were the top imports in the capital goods category. Pharmaceuticals, including packaged medications, were the top category in consumer goods.
What are the top 3 major imports? ›
Most Imported Products:
- Crude oil/Petroleum products.
- Semiconductors.
- Natural Gas.
What are the top 5 items the US imports from China? ›
In 2022, of $536.8 billion in U.S. imports from China, the top commodity sectors were, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances (46.4% of total U.S. imports from China), Furniture, Bedding, Lamps, Toys, Games, Sport Equipment, Paint, and Other Miscellaneous Manufactured Items (12.9%), and Chemicals, Plastics, Rubber, and ...
What is USA main import and export? ›
United States Raw materials imports are worth US$ 249,799 million, product share of 8.52%. United States Intermediate goods exports are worth US$ 371,218 million, product share of 21.17%. United States Intermediate goods imports are worth US$ 496,518 million, product share of 16.93%.