What Are the Top U.S. Imports?

The United States imported $3,367 billion in goods in May 2024. That’s a decrease of $1.2 billion from the previous year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The U.S. goods and trade deficit increased 0.8%, or $75.1 billion, from just one year before.

What was all that stuff we bought? The raw figures from the BEA aren’t very revealing. Top of the list is industrial supplies and materials followed by consumer goods and capital goods. Other sources reveal a bit more detail.

Key Takeaways:

• The United States imports billions of dollars worth of goods and services each year.
• The top three categories of imports were capital goods, consumer goods, and industrial supplies and materials.
• Mexico, Canada, and China exported the most goods to the U.S. in 2024.

Understanding U.S. Imports

The top U.S. imports in 2022, by dollar value, were crude petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, computers, and packaged medication, according to the latest figures available from the Organization of Economic Cooperation.

The countries from which these products were imported were China, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Japan, in that order of volume.

Import Data from the Census Bureau

Here’s a closer look at the current composition of U.S. goods imports. All figures are based on U.S. Census Bureau data for 2024.

Capital goods, excluding automotive, took the top spot in 2023, clocking in at $859.1 billion. Electric devices and computers were the two highest types of capital goods imported. Telecommunications equipment and industrial machinery followed in the highest values of imports. This category also includes semiconductors, food machinery, and aircraft parts.

Consumer goods were the second-largest commodity imported by the U.S. with $757.7 billion worth of goods imported. Pharmaceutical preparations were the top commodity followed by products in the cell phones and other household goods category. Consumer goods also include furniture, artwork, apparel, and glassware.

Next on the list were industrial supplies and materials at $675.4 billion. Crude oil held the top spot in the category followed by petroleum products and industrial supplies. This category also includes finished metal and plastic.

The States That Import the Most

California is the top state importer of foreign goods. California is followed by Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Georgia. These are the top states as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Top Exporters to the United States

Where are all these goods coming from? Mexico is the top exporter of goods and services to the United States. In May 2024, it provided 15.9% of the country’s total imports. Canada and China followed with 13% and 12.7%, respectively. All other countries that import to the U.S. are in the single digits. This includes Germany at 5% and Japan at 4.5%.

What Are the Three Largest Exports and the Three Largest Imports of the U.S.?

While the Bureau of Economic Analysis divides imports into six categories, the three largest are: capital goods, consumer goods, and industrial supplies.In May 2024:

• Other electrical machinery was the top import in the capital goods category.
• Pharmaceuticals, including packaged medications, were the top category in consumer goods.
• Crude oil got the top spot in industrial supplies.

As for exports, industrial supplies get the top spot. That means crude oil, fuel oil, and natural gas. Capital goods were the next-biggest export category, led by other industrial machinery and semiconductors.

What Percentage of Its Food Does the U.S. Import Each Year?

The U.S. imports only about 15% of its food supply each year. That includes a whopping 94% of its fresh fish, 55% of fresh fruit, and 32% of fresh vegetables. Its biggest sources of imported food are Canada and Mexico, but France, Italy, and Singapore also are major suppliers.

Who Are the Largest Import Partners of the U.S. Based on Imports and Exports?

The largest trading partners of the U.S. as of May 2024 were Mexico, Canada, and China, in that order. The U.S. experienced the largest deficits in trading with China, Mexico, and Vietnam, in that order.

The Bottom Line

The United States is the world’s largest economy and relies on inputs imported from other countries to produce finished goods in the country for consumers to use. The majority of the country’s imports come from its major trading partners like Mexico, Canada, and China. Even though some of these products come from overseas, their use in the manufacturing process helps keep the U.S. economy going.

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