World’s 200 Most Valuable Imported Consumer Products

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Ranked by total US dollar amounts spent by product category, the world’s 200 top imported consumer products were worth $10.3 trillion in 2021.

That metric represents 45.7% of the overall spending on all globally imported goods ($22.4 trillion) for the year.

The overall dollar total for world’s 200 most valuable imported consumer products rose by 22.2% from $8.4 trillion in 2020 to 2021. That percentage compares with a 26.5% gain for all imported goods worldwide for the year.

Returning to the top 200 imported consumer-targeted goods, 192 imports attracted higher spending from 2020 to 2021 whereas just 8 declined.

The world’s most valuable imported consumer product were cars in 2021. In second place for highest spending were processed petroleum oils trailed by mobile phones, computers, petroleum gas, then medications.

Changes in global consumer demand for essential imports offer future opportunities for international suppliers who correctly anticipate which upward or downward trends will continue.

Consumer Products Defined

Economics educator BoyceWire defines a consumer product as a final good or end product that a business creates for consumers to buy. For example, consumers often purchase refined petroleum oil at the gas station while imported crude oil is an intermediate good subject to further processing before being sold to end users.

Although there may be a few wealthy individual buyers, products like turbojets are excluded from the consumer products targeted by this study. That is because turbojets are usually purchased by corporations. In contrast, it is common for a consumer to buy a car, truck or motorcycle.

Types of Consumer Products

This article focuses on 3 distinct consumer product types.

Convenience Products are easy to access, non-durable, have relatively lower prices and therefore consumers frequently purchase them. Examples of convenience products are food, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, and soap. Consumers use these and similar items one time only.

Shopping Products are not as easily available, involve more time to make a buying decision, are durable and are not bought as often as most convenience products. A great example of a shopping product is a mobile phone where buying the wrong model is a much more expensive mistake than buying a stale loaf of bread.

Speciality Products describe another consumer product type. This grey area includes infrequently purchased, expensive, durable and sometimes rare items. Consumers may consider the product’s brand image when making their purchase decisions. Some examples of speciality products are gold, silver, diamonds, jewelry, and branded refrigerators or dishwashers.

World’s Most Valuable Imported Convenience Products

The list below showcases the most valuable imported convenience products on which buyers located around the globe spent the most. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level and are presented in descending order.

You can also peruse the greatest increases or decreases in product values from 2021 to 2022 by focusing on the percentages displayed to the right of each product name.

  1. Processed petroleum oils: US$720,127,650,000 (up 56.9%)
  2. Petroleum gas: $456,259,352,000 (up 86.3%)
  3. Medications: $452,387,814,000 (up 5.2%)
  4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $155,244,782,000 (up 61.5%)
  5. Miscellaneous plastic items: $100,023,916,000 (up 16%)
  6. Soya beans: $92,039,083,000 (up 35.3%)
  7. Plastic packing goods, lids, caps: $64,035,035,000 (up 17%)
  8. Corn: $59,101,851,000 (up 43%)
  9. Other food preparations: $58,366,887,000 (up 12.9%)
  10. Palm oil: $51,330,105,000 (up 51.3%)
  11. Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries: $44,352,412,000 (up 14.3%)
  12. Wine: $41,398,581,000 (up 17.9%)
  13. Swine meat: $38,367,086,000 (up 1.1%)
  14. Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs): $37,117,904,000 (up 23.9%)
  15. Other organic cleaning preparations: $36,956,135,000 (up 9.1%)
  16. Cheese, curd: $36,842,151,000 (up 10.4%)
  17. Coffee: $36,456,752,000 (up 15.7%)
  18. Crustaceans (including lobsters): $35,014,091,000 (up 28.9%)
  19. Chocolate, other cocoa preparations: $32,289,123,000 (up 12.5%)
  20. Frozen beef: $30,969,988,000 (up 13.3%)
  21. Sugar (cane or beet): $30,104,554,000 (up 15.5%)
  22. Poultry meat: $28,869,108,000 (up 15%)
  23. Rice: $28,663,011,000 (up 9%)
  24. Fish fillets, pieces: $27,708,239,000 (up 13.2%)
  25. Fresh or chilled beef: $27,609,942,000 (up 21.2%)
  26. Miscellaneous fruits (fresh): $27,232,446,000 (up 23.3%)
  27. Waters with added sugar: $25,444,069,000 (up 17.2%)
  28. Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes: $24,936,448,000 (down -2.2%)
  29. Whole fish (frozen): $24,327,161,000 (up 5.3%)
  30. Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream: $24,122,019,000 (up 7.7%)
  31. Malt extract, food preparations: $23,859,319,000 (down -1%)
  32. Plastic wares (table, kitchen, toiletry): $23,795,741,000 (up 23%)
  33. Whole fish (fresh): $23,702,432,000 (up 22.4%)
  34. Perfumes, toilet waters: $21,831,102,000 (up 29.3%)
  35. Miscellaneous nuts: $18,679,628,000 (up 4.8%)
  36. Dates/pineapples/mango/avocado: $17,984,972,000 (up 11.4%)
  37. Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: $17,984,432,000 (up 27.5%)
  38. Miscellaneous preserved fruits: $17,913,217,000 (up 10.4%)
  39. Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared): $17,795,388,000 (down -1.1%)
  40. Uncoated paper for writing/printing: $17,752,997,000 (up 8.2%)
  41. Fresh or dried citrus fruit: $17,361,729,000 (up 0.7%)
  42. Other fresh/chilled vegetables: $17,310,656,000 (up 7.5%)
  43. Malt beer: $17,208,102,000 (up 9.6%)
  44. Miscellaneous meat (preserved/prepared): $16,837,031,000 (up 6.6%)
  45. Soya-bean oil: $16,742,570,000 (up 61.6%)
  46. Bananas, plantains: $16,692,866,000 (up 1.7%)
  47. Sauces, mixed condiments, seasoning: $16,032,971,000 (up 14.4%)
  48. Fruit and vegetable juices: $15,692,265,000 (up 7.8%)
  49. Aluminum foil: $15,268,775,000 (up 22.3%)
  50. Ink: $14,861,665,000 (up 7.4%)
  51. Moluscs: $13,834,398,000 (up 27.9%)
  52. Dried shelled vegetables: $13,395,468,000 (up 12.9%)
  53. Sugar confectionery (no cocoa): $12,883,493,000 (up 17.2%)
  54. Fuel wood, wood chips, sawdust: $12,570,629,000 (up 14.4%)
  55. Grapes (fresh or dried): $12,185,962,000 (up 3.8%)
  56. Pasta, couscous: $12,164,111,000 (up 5.5%)
  57. Prepared vegetables (non-frozen): $11,838,982,000 (up 5.2%)
  58. Barley: $11,747,202,000 (up 55.6%)
  59. Tissues, napkins, toilet paper: $11,656,386,000 (down -7.4%)
  60. Pipe/chewing/snuff tobaccos: $11,555,151,000 (up 12.7%)
  61. Coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashews: $11,477,352,000 (up 35.9%)
  62. Apples, pears (fresh): $11,371,173,000 (up 5.8%)
  63. Cocoa beans: $10,847,901,000 (up 11.7%)
  64. Antibiotics: $10,833,128,000 (down -7.9%)
  65. Miscellaneous live plants: $10,807,747,000 (up 19.1%)
  66. Unsweetened milk/cream: $10,560,939,000 (up 15.1%)
  67. Crustaceans, molluscs (prepared): $10,489,615,000 (up 18.7%)
  68. Tomatoes: $10,459,202,000 (up 5.2%)
  69. Fresh/dried flowers: $10,288,073,000 (up 25%)
  70. Butter: $10,037,513,000 (up 13.3%)
  71. Red meat offal: $9,921,544,000 (up 12.1%)
  72. Prepared vegetables (frozen): $9,840,903,000 (up 13.6%)
  73. Cherries/peaches/nectarines/plums: $9,513,010,000 (up 17.1%)
  74. Provitamins, vitamins: $9,461,880,000 (up 4.2%)
  75. Medication mixes not in dosage: $9,098,223,000 (down -31.5%)
  76. Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates: $8,975,577,000 (up 6.2%)
  77. Sowing seeds, fruits, spores: $8,884,822,000 (up 7.1%)
  78. Olive oil: $8,748,491,000 (up 12.3%)
  79. Sheep or goat meat: $8,723,977,000 (up 17.8%)
  80. Vegetable saps, extracts: $7,926,666,000 (up 11.5%)
  81. Frozen vegetables: $7,418,412,000 (up 2.9%)
  82. Prepared cereal foods: $7,416,437,000 (up 3.5%)
  83. Frozen fruits, nuts: $7,401,169,000 (up 24.4%)
  84. Onions, garlic, leeks: $7,363,132,000 (up 1.2%)
  85. Oral/dental hygiene preparations: $7,265,725,000 (up 7.9%)
  86. Tea (including flavored): $7,229,145,000 (up 5%)
  87. Margarine: $7,105,713,000 (up 33.4%)

The listed convenience products led the world’s most popular import product type ahead of both shopping products and speciality goods.

Non-durable consumer products are goods that are not re-used once consumed. Alcoholic beverages and bananas are examples of non-durable goods. Convenience products are uniquely non-durable consumer products.

World’s Most Valuable Imported Shopping Products

The following list highlights the most valuable imported shopping products on which buyers worldwide spent the greatest amounts. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level and are presented from highest to lowest total amounts.

The percentages displayed to the right of each product name reveal the highest increases or decreases in global spending on that specific type of shopping product from 2021 to 2022.

  1. Cars: US$727,517,388,000 (up 11.2%)
  2. Mobile phones: $678,875,639,000 (up 15.6%)
  3. Computers, optical readers: $480,635,652,000 (up 17.5%)
  4. Automobile parts/accessories: $407,660,890,000 (up 19:%)
  5. Computer parts, accessories: $161,506,750,000 (up 19.6%)
  6. Trucks: $149,916,557,000 (up 29:%)
  7. Insulated wire/cable: $147,297,257,000 (up 25.3%)
  8. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $128,280,925,000 (up 23.3%)
  9. Electrical converters/power units: $126,769,644,000 (up 20.7%)
  10. Miscellaneous furniture: $105,301,837,000 (up 25:%)
  11. Seats (not barber/dentist chairs): $94,702,902,000 (up 26.2%)
  12. Rubber tires (new): $88,599,383,000 (up 23.1%)
  13. Printing machinery: $88,575,622,000 (up 13.5%)
  14. Hot-rolled iron/non-alloy steel items: $77,903,397,000 (up 69.4%)
  15. Orthopedic appliances: $70,998,800,000 (up 20.3%)
  16. Unrecorded sound media: $69,434,679,000 (up 9.1%)
  17. Cases, handbags, wallets: $68,726,398,000 (up 21.1%)
  18. Miscellaneous iron or steel items: $62,733,007,000 (up 22.9%)
  19. Tractors: $60,663,049,000 (up 39.1%)
  20. Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys: $60,590,573,000 (up 27.3%)
  21. Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet): $60,508,765,000 (up 24.2%)
  22. Women’s clothing (not knit/crochet): $56,547,931,000 (up 17.5%)
  23. Microphones/headphones/amplifiers: $54,838,554,000 (up 16.4%)
  24. Footwear (leather): $53,451,602,000 (up 13.7%)
  25. Footwear (textile): $45,189,251,000 (up 15.9%)
  26. Sports equipment: $44,078,744,000 (up 45.9%)
  27. Packaged insecticides, herbicides: $43,833,090,000 (up 3.2%)
  28. T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet): $43,000,810,000 (up 20.1%)
  29. Video console games, table games: $39,999,164,000 (up 29.9%)
  30. Men’s suits (unknit/non-crochet): $38,818,303,000 (up 13.6%)
  31. Motorcycles: $35,476,624,000 (up 28.4%)
  32. Trailers: $33,494,472,000 (up 39.2%)
  33. Vulcanized rubber items: $33,244,164,000 (up 21.1%)
  34. Women’s clothing (knit or crochet): $33,119,430,000 (up 29:%)
  35. Footwear (rubber or plastic): $32,430,803,000 (up 20.7%)
  36. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $30,401,635,000 (up 42.4%)
  37. Vulcanized rubber apparel/accessory: $30,289,854,000 (up 82.8%)
  38. Wrist/pocket watches (regular case): $29,429,933,000 (up 32.2%)
  39. Paper containers, cellulose wadding: $28,210,947,000 (up 19.5%)
  40. Miscellaneous textile items: $28,156,269,000 (down -65.2%)
  41. Linens: $21,821,836,000 (up 27.5%)
  42. Mattresses, quilts: $21,286,933,000 (up 22.2%)
  43. Miscellaneous aluminum items: $19,221,823,000 (up 24:%)
  44. Women’s coats (unknit/non-crochet): $18,931,423,000 (up 15.2%)
  45. Wrist/pocket watches (precious case): $17,295,726,000 (up 40.9%)
  46. Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels: $16,676,751,000 (up 23.2%)
  47. Hair preparations: $16,646,089,000 (up 14:%)
  48. Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners: $15,976,217,000 (up 3.3%)
  49. Printed books, brochures: $15,880,561,000 (up 12:%)
  50. Iron/steel tables, household items: $15,831,792,000 (up 30.4%)
  51. Prepared glues, adhesives: $15,766,336,000 (up 20.4%)
  52. Soap, organic surface-active goods: $15,458,153,000 (up 5.1%)
  53. Men’s coats (unknit/non-crochet): $15,332,082,000 (up 14.4%)
  54. Locks, lock-keys: $13,845,859,000 (up 18.5%)
  55. Plastic tile or roll coverings: $13,611,998,000 (up 28.3%)
  56. Shaving preparations, deodorants: $13,513,171,000 (up 9.5%)
  57. Women’s underwear (knit/crochet): $13,361,352,000 (up 34.5%)
  58. Felt or other non-woven garments: $13,196,938,000 (down -45.6%)
  59. Glass bottles, other containers: $13,081,949,000 (up 19.2%)
  60. Stockings, hosiery (knit or crochet): $12,778,912,000 (up 21.5%)
  61. Men’s suits,trousers (knit or crochet): $12,462,664,000 (up 39.5%)
  62. Bras, corsets (unknit/non-crochet): $12,044,191,000 (up 24.1%)
  63. Sportswear (unknit/non-crochet): $11,740,381,000 (up 9.6%)
  64. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $11,291,558,000 (up 23.8%)
  65. Women’s shirts (not knit or crochet): $11,138,463,000 (up 6.3%)
  66. Men’s shirts (not knit or crochet): $9,840,464,000 (up 1:%)
  67. Primary batteries/cells: $9,636,898,000 (up 7.1%)
  68. Household glassware: $9,034,969,000 (up 29.3%)
  69. Caps, lids, corks, pouring stoppers: $8,876,679,000 (up 19.2%)
  70. Miscellaneous wooden articles: $8,551,060,000 (up 21.5%)
  71. Infant clothing (knit or crochet): $8,310,682,000 (up 24.8%)
  72. Wide knit or crochet fabrics: $8,269,679,000 (up 37.9%)
  73. Insoles, heel cushions: $8,134,877,000 (up 19.3%)
  74. Men’s underwear (knit/crochet): $8,099,200,000 (up 31.6%)
  75. Special garments including sports: $8,050,862,000 (up 22.6%)
  76. Glass mirrors: $7,556,315,000 (up 20.3%)
  77. Aluminum household items: $7,531,524,000 (up 33.9%)
  78. Enamel paints, varnishes: $7,526,324,000 (up 17.4%)
  79. Leather clothing, accessories: $7,217,093,000 (up 16.9%)
  80. Tufted carpets/textile floor coverings: $7,138,268,000 (up 21.2%)
  81. Knit/crochet hats, other headgear: $6,821,497,000 (up 31:%)
  82. Men’s shirts (knit or crochet): $6,799,672,000 (up 7.9%)
  83. Imitation jewelry: $6,541,446,000 (up 26.7%)

The world’s second-most popular imported product type is shopping products led by vehicles-related and technology items.

As a product category, shopping products exceeded two-fifths (83) or 41.5% of all 200 top imported consumer goods.

Durable consumer products are goods like cars, refrigerators and furniture that last a relatively long time. Consumers can put durable products to use again and again. Note that shopping products and speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

World’s Most Valuable Imported Speciality Products

Speciality products represent the category with the fewest entries among global imports that attracted the world’s greatest spending on imported consumer goods during 2022.

Selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level, the most valuable speciality items are listed in descending order below.

The percentage to the right of each product name reveal highest increases or decreases in 2022 compared to 2021.

  1. Gold (unwrought): $441,553,548,000 (up 9.2%)
  2. Diamonds (unmounted/unset): $118,194,389,000 (up 56.7%)
  3. Electric storage batteries: $95,048,369,000 (up 42.3%)
  4. Jewelry: $94,328,051,000 (up 50.2%)
  5. Beauty/makeup/skin care: $74,527,004,000 (up 14.8%)
  6. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $68,053,178,000 (up 25.1%)
  7. Refrigerators, freezers: $62,228,734,000 (up 24.5%)
  8. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: $56,483,980,000 (up 15%)
  9. Air conditioners: $56,460,563,000 (up 19.5%)
  10. Temperature-change machines: $46,329,657,000 (up 17.5%)
  11. Nitrogenous fertilizers: $38,881,372,000 (up 63.1%)
  12. Silver (unwrought): $35,118,259,000 (up 55.1%)
  13. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $34,424,694,000 (up 12.6%)
  14. Fertilizer mixes: $34,325,369,000 (up 48.6%)
  15. Electric generating sets, converters: $26,285,207,000 (up 12.2%)
  16. Interchangeable hand/machine tools: $23,928,665,000 (up 19.4%)
  17. Vacuum cleaners: $20,231,474,000 (up 22.8%)
  18. Potassic fertilizers: $19,588,981,000 (up 28.8%)
  19. Hand-drawn paintings, drawings: $19,349,200,000 (up 44.4%)
  20. Electromechanic domestic appliances: $18,982,507,000 (up 28.1%)
  21. Washing machines: $16,974,152,000 (up 15.9%)
  22. Iron/steel stoves, barbecues: $15,970,459,000 (up 42.7%)
  23. Magnets including electro-magnets: $11,513,700,000 (up 34.1%)
  24. Spectacles, goggles: $10,811,082,000 (up 10%)
  25. Prefabricated buildings: $9,627,709,000 (up 25.6%)
  26. Carnival items, magic tricks: $9,526,420,000 (up 32.4%)
  27. Precious/semi-precious stones (unstrung): $9,101,543,000 (up 91.9%)
  28. Compasses, other navigational aids: $8,124,556,000 (up 7.4%)
  29. Speed/distance meters: $7,864,539,000 (up 8.7%)
  30. Spectacle/goggle frames, mountings: $7,193,663,000 (up 32.2%)

Like the shopping products category, speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

Based on the product types identified in the sections above, 113 of the overall 200 highest-value consumer shopper plus speciality products are durable while the remaining 87 convenience products are classified as non-durable.

Overall Fastest-Growing Consumer Imports

Listed below are the top 10 consumer products imported around the globe that experienced the highest percentage increases in spending from 2020 to 2021.

  1. Unstrung precious/semi-precious stones: Up 91.9% ($9.1 billion)
  2. Petroleum gas: Up 86.3% ($456.3 billion)
  3. Vulcanized rubber clothing and accessories: Up 82.8% ($30.3 billion)
  4. Items made from hot-rolled iron/non-alloy steel: Up 69.4% ($77.9 billion) 
  5. Nitrogenous fertilizers: Up 63.1% ($38.9 billion)
  6. Soya-bean oil: Up 61.6% ($16.7 billion)
  7. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: Up 61.5% ($155.2 billion)
  8. Processed petroleum oils: Up 56.9% ($720.1 billion)
  9. Diamonds (unmounted/unset): Up 56.7% ($118.2 billion)
  10. Barley: Up 55.6% ($11.7 billion)

Five among the above items are durable goods that consumers can re-use over time. Two are shopping products (vulcanized rubber clothing and accessories, items made from hot-rolled iron/non-alloy steel) that require a comparatively longer time to make a buying decision, while 3 top gainers are periodically purchased speciality items specifically unstrung precious or semi-precious stones, nitrogenous fertilizers, and diamonds.

The remaining 5 of the 10 fastest-growing imported consumer products are convenience products that are used once. These are petroleum gas, soya-bean oil, coal, processed petroleum oils, and barley.

Overall Worst-Declining Consumer Imports

The world’s spending on the following imported items decreased from 2020 to 2021.

  1. Miscellaneous textile items: Down -65.2% ($28.2 billion)
  2. Felt or other non-woven garments: Down -45.6% ($13.2 billion)
  3. Medication mixes not in dosage: Down -31.5% ($9.1 billion)
  4. Antibiotics: Down -7.9% ($10.8 billion)
  5. Tissues, napkins, toilet paper: Down -7.4% ($11.7 billion)
  6. Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes: Down -2.2% ($24.9 billion)
  7. Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared): Down -1.1% ($17.8 billion)
  8. Malt extract, food preparations: Down -1% ($23.9 billion)

Six among the top declining product categories above are non-durable convenience products that are consumed one time only. These top-gaining convenience products range from medication mixes not in dosage to cigars, cigarellos and cigarettes.

The remaining two import decliners are shopping products that normally require more time for shoppers to make buying decisions. Purchases under the shopping products category are more likely to be deferred than convenience products. The declining shopping products are preserved or prepared fish and caviar, then malt extract and malt food preparations.

See also

More great research: US Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, UK’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 portals.

BoyceWire, Consumer Goods Definition.

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: World Economy.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Investopedia, Consumer Goods, Consumer Staples Definition, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

Trading Economics, World Consumer Spending.

Wikipedia, List of largest consumer markets.

World’s Top Exports, World’s Top Imports: Products and Countries.

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