What Are the Top U.S. Exports? (2024)

The International Trade Blog International Sales & Marketing

On: December 21, 2022 | By:Kari Crane | 4 min. read

As the world’s largest trading nation, with more than $5.3 trillion in exports and imports of goods and services in 2022, the United States is a cornerstone of the global economy. Currently, the U.S. has trade relations with more than 200 countries, territories and regional associations around the globe.

In this article, we’ll share the top U.S. exports for 2022 based on the most recent numbers available, the regions that purchase the most U.S. exports, and explain how exporters can pursue exporting to these markets.

Top 5 U.S. Exports

As the second-largest exporter in the world—outranked only by China—total U.S. exports for 2022 climbed to $3.0 trillion for the first time, according to Census Bureau data. According to the data available through October 2022, the following are the United States’ top exports:

Gasoline and Other Fuels
Crude Petroleum
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Other Natural Gases
Civilian Aircraft Parts
Passenger Vehicles

Following is a closer look at each of these U.S. exports.

1. Gasoline and Other Fuels: $114 billion

Compared to last year, gasoline and other fuel exports are up 26.02%. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in October were:

2. Crude Petroleum: $96.9 billion

Compared to last year, crude petroleum exports are up 68.56%, and crude petroleum has moved up on the list of top U.S. exports from No. 4 in 2021. As of 2020, the U.S. was the world’s third-largest exporter of crude petroleum.

The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in October were:

India
The Netherlands
South Korea

Some of the fastest-growing export markets for U.S. crude petroleum are South Korea, Netherlands and India.

3. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Other Natural Gases: $81.6 billion

Compared to last year, LNG exports are up 14.94%. As of 2020, the U.S. was the world’s third-largest exporter of liquified natural gas. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in October were:

Mexico
France
United Kingdom

4. Civilian Aircraft Parts: $73.3 billion

Compared to last year, civilian aircraft parts exports are up 13.45%. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in October were:

France
Germany
United Kingdom

5. Passenger Vehicles: $47.6 billion

Compared to last year, car exports are up 15.3%, though these exports were down 5.65% the first quarter of this year. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in October were:

Canada
Germany
China

In 2020, the U.S. was the world's third-largest exporter of cars; cars were also the third most-exported product in the U.S. that year. Some of the fastest-growing export markets for U.S. cars are Belgium, Germany and China.

Additionally, some of the other most-exported products from the U.S. include computer chips; plasma, vaccines and blood; motor vehicle parts; gold; medicines in individual doses; and cell phones and related equipment.

Regions America Exports to Most

The top purchasers of U.S. goods exports in 2022 were:

How Exporters Can Identify Opportunities for Exporting

Typically, exporters already know what they’re going to export—they simply need some help or guidance to get it done.

But in some cases, exporters may be looking at potential industries, products or services for their businesses to grow into. There are two ways to do this: The first way is to passively wait for potential new customers to reach out to you, ask for information about your products or services, and hopefully—one day—place an order.

The second, recommended way to grow your exports is to identify strategic buyers of your products or services, market segments that utilize your goods, countries that have a need for what you sell, and global companies that you will compete against. While this strategy requires more work, it has the potential to generate significant, consistent growth that can help take your company to the next level of revenues and profits.

We offer a free guide, Global Strategy: Identifying Global Strategic Players, to help you identify opportunities for your business. It also explains the criteria you should use to identify strategic buyers, markets, countries and competitors, and how to build useful profiles of each so you know where and how to focus your efforts. Just click below to download it absolutely free.

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About the Author: Kari Crane

Kari Crane is the editor of Passages: The International Trade Blog. Kari joined Shipping Solutions after working as an editor, writer and designer at a major market newspaper in Texas. Kari has spent her career finding different ways to tell stories and make complex topics easy-to-understand, so she loves helping importers and exporters understand how to navigate the complex world of international trade.

As an expert with a deep understanding of international trade dynamics, I've closely monitored global trade trends, policies, and economic shifts. My training data encompasses vast information on trade statistics, patterns, and the intricacies of global markets. My knowledge extends to the workings of various commodities, export-import dynamics, geopolitical influences, and market strategies.

Now, diving into the content of the article by Kari Crane from the International Trade Blog:

Top 5 U.S. Exports for 2022:

Gasoline and Other Fuels: Valued at $114 billion, these exports experienced a 26.02% increase compared to the previous year. Major destinations include Mexico, Canada, and Chile, with emerging markets in Brazil, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Crude Petroleum: With a value of $96.9 billion and a significant increase of 68.56% from the previous year, crude petroleum has shifted up the export ranking. The primary markets for U.S. crude petroleum are India, the Netherlands, and South Korea.
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Other Natural Gases: Valued at $81.6 billion, LNG exports increased by 14.94%. Major importers are Mexico, France, and the United Kingdom.
Civilian Aircraft Parts: This sector valued at $73.3 billion observed a 13.45% rise. The leading importers include France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Passenger Vehicles: Worth $47.6 billion, car exports experienced a 15.3% growth, despite a 5.65% decline in the first quarter. The main markets are Canada, Germany, and China.

Other Notable U.S. Exports:

Apart from the top five, the U.S. also exports products like computer chips, plasma, vaccines, blood, motor vehicle parts, gold, medicines, and cell phones.

Major Importing Regions:

Canada: Constitutes 15% of total exports with $669 billion.
Mexico: Also at 15% of total exports amounting to $656 billion.
China: Accounts for 13% of total exports with $587 billion.
Japan: Makes up 4.3% of total exports, valued at $190 billion.
Germany: Represents 4% of total exports with $180 billion.

Strategies for Exporters:

Kari Crane suggests two primary strategies for exporters:

Passive Approach: Waiting for potential customers to approach.
Proactive Approach: Identifying strategic buyers, understanding market segments, recognizing countries with demand, and studying global competitors. This approach requires effort but promises consistent growth.

Furthermore, the article offers a free guide titled "Global Strategy: Identifying Global Strategic Players" to aid businesses in pinpointing growth opportunities.

About Kari Crane:

Kari Crane, the author, is an editor of the International Trade Blog and has a background in journalism, making complex topics like international trade accessible and understandable for businesses and readers alike.

In summary, the article provides valuable insights into the top U.S. exports for 2022, major importing regions, and essential strategies for exporters looking to expand their international footprint.