The United States of America imported US$2.407 trillion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -6.1% from $2.564 trillion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of America’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable US imports during 2020 for each of America’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over two-thirds (69.3%) of America’s import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for American imports and each of the top supplier countries.

America’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to the US amounted to $456.4 billion or 19% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.6% of America’s imports from mainland China.

1. Electronic equipment: $114.5 billion
2. Machinery: $100.1 billion
3. Toys, games: $27.8 billion
4. Furniture, lighting, signs: $25.3 billion
5. Other textiles, worn clothing: $22.4 billion
6. Plastics: $21.8 billion
7. Vehicles: $13.6 billion
8. Medical, technical equipment: $12.4 billion
9. Iron or steel products: $11.5 billion
10. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $10.2 billion
11. Knit or crochet clothing: $9.3 billion
12. Footwear: $9.2 billion
13. Organic chemicals: $7.8 billion
14. Other base metal goods: $5.1 billion
15. Base metal tools, cutlery: $4 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category (up 137.9%), plastics as a material (up 13.3%), medical or technical equipment (up 6.8%), machinery (up 6.4%), then toys and games (up 4.5%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -34.8%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -34.4%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -16.4%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -12.9%), electronic equipment (down -11%) and vehicles (down -9%).

America’s Main Imports from Mexico

In 2020, Mexico’s exports to the US amounted to $328.7 billion or 13.7% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents an -8.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.3% of America’s imports from Mexico.

1. Vehicles: $83.3 billion
2. Machinery: $62.5 billion
3. Electronic equipment: $59.6 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $15 billion
5. Mineral fuels including oil: $10.2 billion
6. Furniture, lighting, signs: $9.6 billion
7. Fruits, nuts: $8.3 billion
8. Vegetables: $8 billion
9. Beverages: $7.7 billion
10. Gems, precious metals: $5.7 billion
11. Plastics: $5.5 billion
12. Iron or steel products: $4.9 billion
13. Rubber: $2.6 billion
14. Other base metal goods: $2.1 billion
15. Iron and steel: $1.9 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Mexico under the beverages product category (up 20.4%), vegetables (up 12.8%) then gems and precious metals (up 9.3%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -23.7%), vehicles (down -18.1%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -10.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -9.7%) and rubber (down -7.3%).

America’s Main Imports from Canada

Canada and the United States share the world’s longest international long land border, facilitating trade between the two neighboring North American countries.

In 2020, Canada’s exports to the US amounted to $277.3 billion or 11.5% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a -15% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 72.4% of America’s imports from Canada.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: $63.3 billion
2. Vehicles: $40.7 billion
3. Machinery: $19.8 billion
4. Wood: $11.3 billion
5. Plastics: $10.8 billion
6. Gems, precious metals: $8.1 billion
7. Aluminum: $6.9 billion
8. Electronic equipment: $6.6 billion
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $6.1 billion
10. Paper: $5.5 billion
11. Pharmaceuticals: $5 billion
12. Iron and steel: $4.5 billion
13. Furniture, lighting, signs: $4.4 billion
14. Cereal, milk preparations: $4 billion
15. Iron or steel products: $3.6 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Canada under the gems and precious metals product category (up 38%) and wood (up 28.2%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -29.9%), vehicles (down -24.1%), electronic equipment (down -16.5%), machinery (down -15.9%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -14.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -11.6%), paper (down -9.2%) then aircraft and spacecraft (down -9.1%).

America’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to the US amounted to $122.5 billion or 5.1% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.8% of America’s imports from Japan.

1. Vehicles: $41 billion
2. Machinery: $27.4 billion
3. Electronic equipment: $16.4 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $6.1 billion
5. Pharmaceuticals: $4.9 billion
6. Aircraft, spacecraft: $2.7 billion
7. Other chemical goods: $2.4 billion
8. Plastics: $2.2 billion
9. Rubber: $1.9 billion
10. Organic chemicals: $1.7 billion
11. Iron or steel products: $1.4 billion
12. Photo/cinematographic goods: $988.2 million
13. Base metal tools, cutlery: $834.3 million
14. Iron and steel: $741.6 million
15. Inorganic chemicals: $571.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Japan were under the gems and precious metals product category (up 13.8%) and pharmaceuticals (up 13.7%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were inorganic chemicals (down -52.7%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -33.5%), iron and steel as materials (down -28.5%), iron or steel products (down -26%), machinery (down -21.5%), rubber (down -19.6%), vehicles (down -18.5%), medical or technical equipment (down -13.9%) then base metal tools and cutlery (down -13.8%).

America’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to the US amounted to $117.4 billion or 4.9% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a -9.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.7% of America’s imports from Germany.

1. Machinery: $24.5 billion
2. Pharmaceuticals: $20.2 billion
3. Vehicles: $18.6 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $9.9 billion
5. Electronic equipment: $8.2 billion
6. Plastics: $3.2 billion
7. Gems, precious metals: $3.1 billion
8. Organic chemicals: $2.8 billion
9. Other chemical goods: $1.9 billion
10. Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.8 billion
11. Iron or steel products: $1.4 billion
12. Inorganic chemicals: $1.1 billion
13. Rubber: $991.9 million
14. Base metal tools, cutlery: $880.4 million
15. Wood: $836.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Germany under the gems and precious metals product category (up 68.4%), wood (up 42.6%), pharmaceuticals (up 16.5%) and inorganic chemicals (up 7.6%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -29.3%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -27%), vehicles (down -25.2%), rubber (down -16.9%), base metal tools and cutlery (down -12.2%), machinery (down -11.5%) and medical or technical equipment (down -11%).

America’s Main Imports from Vietnam

In 2020, Vietnam’s exports to the US amounted to $83.2 billion or 3.5% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a 20.3% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.2% of America’s imports from Vietnam.

1. Electronic equipment: $27.6 billion
2. Furniture, lighting, signs: $11.3 billion
3. Knit or crochet clothing: $7.4 billion
4. Machinery: $7 billion
5. Footwear: $6.7 billion
6. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $5.8 billion
7. Toys, games: $2.2 billion
8. Plastics: $1.4 billion
9. Leather, animal gut articles: $1.12 billion
10. Fruits, nuts: $1.05 billion
11. Rubber: $1 billion
12. Other textiles, worn clothing: $932.8 million
13. Medical, technical equipment: $918.9 million
14. Fish: $759.7 million
15. Iron or steel products: $707.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Vietnam under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category (up 426.3%), machinery (up 85.3%), toys and games (up 68.6%), plastics as a material (up 61%), furniture, lighting and signs (up 37.7%), electronic equipment (up 26.6%) and rubber (up 18.4%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were articles made from leather and animal gut (down -14.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -10%), footwear (down -7.4%) then fish (down -7.1%)

America’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to the US amounted to $78.4 billion or 3.3% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.8% of America’s imports from South Korea.

1. Vehicles: $21.1 billion
2. Machinery: $17 billion
3. Electronic equipment: $14.9 billion
4. Plastics: $3 billion
5. Mineral fuels including oil: $2.6 billion
6. Pharmaceuticals: $1.9 billion
7. Rubber: $1.7 billion
8. Iron or steel products: $1.5 billion
9. Medical, technical equipment: $1.3 billion
10. Iron and steel: $1.2 billion
11. Organic chemicals: $1.1 billion
12. Other chemical goods: $912.3 million
13. Gems, precious metals: $853.6 million
14. Perfumes, cosmetics: $621.7 million
15. Paper: $498 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from South Korea under the gems and precious metals product category (up 309.7%), miscellaneous chemical goods (84.4%), machinery (up 10.2%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 9.4%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -42.2%), products made from iron or steel (down -30.3%), paper (down -27%), iron and steel as materials (down -26.1%), organic chemicals (down -25.4%), rubber (down -14.6%) then pharmaceuticals (down -10.2%).

America’s Main Imports from Switzerland

In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to the US amounted to $75.6 billion or 3.1% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a 66.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.3% of America’s imports from Switzerland.

1. Gems, precious metals: $31.2 billion
2. Pharmaceuticals: $17.7 billion
3. Organic chemicals: $4.3 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $3.8 billion
5. Clocks, watches: $3.1 billion
6. Machinery: $2.8 billion
7. Electronic equipment: $1.3 billion
8. Beverages: $673.3 million
9. Coffee, tea, spices: $460.7 million
10. Aircraft, spacecraft: $450 million
11. Plastics: $324.1 million
12. Base metal tools, cutlery: $265.6 million
13. Iron or steel products: $181.9 million
14. Collector items, art, antiques: $138.4 million
15. Perfumes, cosmetics: $137.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Switzerland under the gems and precious metals product category (up 1,351%), coffee, tea and spices (up 25.4%), pharmaceuticals (up 13.1%) then base metal tools and cutlery (up 11.9%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were collector items, art and antiques (down -62.3%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -23.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -14.2%), beverages (down -11.2%) then clocks and watches (down -10.5%).

America’s Main Imports from Ireland

In 2020, Ireland’s exports to the US amounted to $66.3 billion or 2.8% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents a 6.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.5% of America’s imports from Ireland.

1. Pharmaceuticals: $27.7 billion
2. Organic chemicals: $18.9 billion
3. Medical, technical equipment: $6.8 billion
4. Perfumes, cosmetics: $3 billion
5. Machinery: $1 billion
6. Electronic equipment: $829.4 million
7. Beverages: $712.8 million
8. Plastics: $269.3 million
9. Dairy, eggs, honey: $267.1 million
10. Modified starches, enzymes: $154.4 million
11. Other chemical goods: $129.9 million
12. Live animals: $102.8 million
13. Meat: $77 million
14. Gems, precious metals: $45.9 million
15. Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $36.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Ireland under the meat product category (up 48.3%), live animals (up 27.3%), organic chemicals (up 22.8%) then plastics as a material (up 8.6%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were beverages (down -31.8%), electronic equipment (down -29.8%), gems and precious metals (down -26.3%), medical or technical equipment (down -16.8%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (down -6.7%).

America’s Main Imports from Taiwan

In 2020, Taiwan’s exports to the US amounted to $62.5 billion or 2.6% of overall American imports.

That dollar amount represents an 11.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.9% of America’s imports from Taiwan.

1. Electronic equipment: $19 billion
2. Machinery: $18.9 billion
3. Vehicles: $3.1 billion
4. Iron or steel products: $2.8 billion
5. Plastics: $2.4 billion
6. Medical, technical equipment: $2.2 billion
7. Toys, games: $1.8 billion
8. Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.6 billion
9. Other base metal goods: $1 billion
10. Rubber: $1 billion
11. Base metal tools, cutlery: $982.5 million
12. Iron and steel: $510.6 million
13. Organic chemicals: $356.7 million
14. Other chemical goods: $332.5 million
15. Glass: $325.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for American imports from Taiwan under the toys and games product category (up 37%), machinery (up 19.3%), electronic equipment (up 19.3%), electronic equipment (up 16%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 15.1%), medical or technical equipment (up 14.8%), base metal tools and cutlery, then furniture, lighting and signs (up 12.5%).

Posting the severest declines among America’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -13.8%), products made from iron or steel (down -12.3%) and organic chemicals (down -10%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, United States Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, United States, Borders of the United States.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.