World’s 200 Most Valuable Imported Consumer Products

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.

Specialty 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.

Global Consumer Imports Smart List

The searchable marketing intelligence table below showcases the world’s 200 highest-value imported consumer products in descending order. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level.

The table’s fifth column identifies each entry’s consumer product type.

#Imported ProductUS$2020-1Type
1Cars$727,517,388,000+11.2%SPD
2Processed petroleum oils$720,127,650,000+56.9%CPND
3Mobile phones$678,875,639,000+15.6%SPD
4Computers, optical readers$480,635,652,000+17.5%SPD
5Petroleum gas$456,259,352,000+86.3%CPND
6Medications$452,387,814,000+5.2%CPND
7Gold (unwrought)$441,553,548,000+9.2%SYD
8Automobile parts/accessories$407,660,890,000+19%SPD
9Computer parts, accessories$161,506,750,000+19.6%SPD
10Coal, solid fuels made from coal$155,244,782,000+61.5%CPND
11Trucks$149,916,557,000+29%SPD
12Insulated wire/cable$147,297,257,000+25.3%SPD
13Lower-voltage switches, fuses$128,280,925,000+23.3%SPD
14Electrical converters/power units$126,769,644,000+20.7%SPD
15Diamonds (unmounted/unset)$118,194,389,000+56.7%SYD
16Miscellaneous furniture$105,301,837,000+25%SPD
17Miscellaneous plastic items$100,023,916,000+16%CPND
18Electric storage batteries$95,048,369,000+42.3%SYD
19Seats (not barber/dentist chairs)$94,702,902,000+26.2%SPD
20Jewelry$94,328,051,000+50.2%SYD
21Soya beans$92,039,083,000+35.3%CPND
22Rubber tires (new)$88,599,383,000+23.1%SPD
23Printing machinery$88,575,622,000+13.5%SPD
24Hot-rolled iron/non-alloy steel items$77,903,397,000+69.4%SPD
25Beauty/makeup/skin care$74,527,004,000+14.8%SYD
26Orthopedic appliances$70,998,800,000+20.3%SPD
27Unrecorded sound media$69,434,679,000+9.1%SPD
28Cases, handbags, wallets$68,726,398,000+21.1%SPD
29Electric water heaters, hair dryers$68,053,178,000+25.1%SYD
30Plastic packing goods, lids, caps$64,035,035,000+17%CPND
31Miscellaneous iron or steel items$62,733,007,000+22.9%SPD
32Refrigerators, freezers$62,228,734,000+24.5%SYD
33Tractors$60,663,049,000+39.1%SPD
34Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys$60,590,573,000+27.3%SPD
35Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet)$60,508,765,000+24.2%SPD
36Corn$59,101,851,000+43%CPND
37Other food preparations$58,366,887,000+12.9%CPND
38Women's clothing (not knit/crochet)$56,547,931,000+17.5%SPD
39Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools$56,483,980,000+15%SYD
40Air conditioners$56,460,563,000+19.5%SYD
41Microphones/headphones/amplifiers$54,838,554,000+16.4%SPD
42Footwear (leather)$53,451,602,000+13.7%SPD
43Palm oil$51,330,105,000+51.3%CPND
44Temperature-change machines$46,329,657,000+17.5%SYD
45Footwear (textile)$45,189,251,000+15.9%SPD
46Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries$44,352,412,000+14.3%CPND
47Sports equipment$44,078,744,000+45.9%SPD
48Packaged insecticides, herbicides$43,833,090,000+3.2%SPD
49T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet)$43,000,810,000+20.1%SPD
50Wine $41,398,581,000+17.9%CPND
51Video console games, table games$39,999,164,000+29.9%SPD
52Nitrogenous fertilizers$38,881,372,000+63.1%SYD
53Men's suits (unknit/non-crochet)$38,818,303,000+13.6%SPD
54Swine meat$38,367,086,000+1.1%CPND
55Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs)$37,117,904,000+23.9%CPND
56Other organic cleaning preparations$36,956,135,000+9.1%CPND
57Cheese, curd$36,842,151,000+10.4%CPND
58Coffee$36,456,752,000+15.7%CPND
59Motorcycles$35,476,624,000+28.4%SPD
60Silver (unwrought)$35,118,259,000+55.1%SYD
61Crustaceans (including lobsters)$35,014,091,000+28.9%CPND
62 Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines $34,424,694,000+12.6%SYD
63Fertilizer mixes$34,325,369,000+48.6%SYD
64Trailers$33,494,472,000+39.2%SPD
65Vulcanized rubber items$33,244,164,000+21.1%SPD
66Women's clothing (knit or crochet)$33,119,430,000+29%SPD
67Footwear (rubber or plastic)$32,430,803,000+20.7%SPD
68Chocolate, other cocoa preparations$32,289,123,000+12.5%CPND
69Frozen beef$30,969,988,000+13.3%CPND
70Motorcycle parts/accessories$30,401,635,000+42.4%SPD
71Vulcanized rubber apparel/accessory$30,289,854,000+82.8%SPD
72Sugar (cane or beet)$30,104,554,000+15.5%CPND
73Wrist/pocket watches (regular case)$29,429,933,000+32.2%SPD
74Poultry meat$28,869,108,000+15%CPND
75Rice$28,663,011,000+9%CPND
76Paper containers, cellulose wadding$28,210,947,000+19.5%SPD
77Miscellaneous textile items$28,156,269,000-65.2%SPD
78Fish fillets, pieces$27,708,239,000+13.2%CPND
79Fresh or chilled beef$27,609,942,000+21.2%CPND
80Miscellaneous fruits (fresh)$27,232,446,000+23.3%CPND
81Electric generating sets, converters$26,285,207,000+12.2%SYD
82Waters with added sugar$25,444,069,000+17.2%CPND
83Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes$24,936,448,000-2.2%CPND
84Whole fish (frozen)$24,327,161,000+5.3%CPND
85Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream$24,122,019,000+7.7%CPND
86Interchangeable hand/machine tools$23,928,665,000+19.4%SYD
87Malt extract, food preparations$23,859,319,000-1%CPND
88Plastic wares (table, kitchen, toiletry)$23,795,741,000+23%CPND
89Whole fish (fresh)$23,702,432,000+22.4%CPND
90Perfumes, toilet waters$21,831,102,000+29.3%CPND
91Linens$21,821,836,000+27.5%SPD
92Mattresses, quilts$21,286,933,000+22.2%SPD
93Vacuum cleaners$20,231,474,000+22.8%SYD
94Potassic fertilizers$19,588,981,000+28.8%SYD
95Hand-drawn paintings, drawings$19,349,200,000+44.4%SYD
96Miscellaneous aluminum items$19,221,823,000+24%SPD
97Electromechanic domestic appliances$18,982,507,000+28.1%SYD
98Women's coats (unknit/non-crochet)$18,931,423,000+15.2%SPD
99Miscellaneous nuts$18,679,628,000+4.8%CPND
100Dates/pineapples/mango/avocado$17,984,972,000+11.4%CPND
101Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil$17,984,432,000+27.5%CPND
102Miscellaneous preserved fruits$17,913,217,000+10.4%CPND
103Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared)$17,795,388,000-1.1%CPND
104Uncoated paper for writing/printing$17,752,997,000+8.2%CPND
105Fresh or dried citrus fruit$17,361,729,000+0.7%CPND
106Other fresh/chilled vegetables$17,310,656,000+7.5%CPND
107Wrist/pocket watches (precious case)$17,295,726,000+40.9%SPD
108Malt beer$17,208,102,000+9.6%CPND
109Washing machines$16,974,152,000+15.9%SYD
110Miscellaneous meat (preserved/prepared)$16,837,031,000+6.6%CPND
111Soya-bean oil$16,742,570,000+61.6%CPND
112Bananas, plantains$16,692,866,000+1.7%CPND
113Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels$16,676,751,000+23.2%SPD
114Hair preparations$16,646,089,000+14%SPD
115Sauces, mixed condiments, seasoning$16,032,971,000+14.4%CPND
116Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners$15,976,217,000+3.3%SPD
117Iron/steel stoves, barbecues$15,970,459,000+42.7%SYD
118Printed books, brochures$15,880,561,000+12%SPD
119Iron/steel tables, household items$15,831,792,000+30.4%SPD
120Prepared glues, adhesives$15,766,336,000+20.4%SPD
121Fruit and vegetable juices$15,692,265,000+7.8%CPND
122Soap, organic surface-active goods$15,458,153,000+5.1%SPD
123Men's coats (unknit/non-crochet)$15,332,082,000+14.4%SPD
124Aluminum foil$15,268,775,000+22.3%CPND
125Ink$14,861,665,000+7.4%CPND
126Locks, lock-keys$13,845,859,000+18.5%SPD
127Moluscs$13,834,398,000+27.9%CPND
128Plastic tile or roll coverings$13,611,998,000+28.3%SPD
129Shaving preparations, deodorants$13,513,171,000+9.5%SPD
130Dried shelled vegetables$13,395,468,000+12.9%CPND
131Women's underwear (knit/crochet)$13,361,352,000+34.5%SPD
132Felt or other non-woven garments$13,196,938,000-45.6%SPD
133Glass bottles, other containers$13,081,949,000+19.2%SPD
134Sugar confectionery (no cocoa)$12,883,493,000+17.2%CPND
135Stockings, hosiery (knit or crochet)$12,778,912,000+21.5%SPD
136Fuel wood, wood chips, sawdust$12,570,629,000+14.4%CPND
137Men's suits,trousers (knit or crochet)$12,462,664,000+39.5%SPD
138Grapes (fresh or dried)$12,185,962,000+3.8%CPND
139Pasta, couscous$12,164,111,000+5.5%CPND
140Bras, corsets (unknit/non-crochet)$12,044,191,000+24.1%SPD
141Prepared vegetables (non-frozen)$11,838,982,000+5.2%CPND
142Barley$11,747,202,000+55.6%CPND
143Sportswear (unknit/non-crochet)$11,740,381,000+9.6%SPD
144Tissues, napkins, toilet paper$11,656,386,000-7.4%CPND
145Pipe/chewing/snuff tobaccos$11,555,151,000+12.7%CPND
146Magnets including electro-magnets$11,513,700,000+34.1%SYD
147Coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashews$11,477,352,000+35.9%CPND
148Apples, pears (fresh)$11,371,173,000+5.8%CPND
149Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles$11,291,558,000+23.8%SPD
150Women's shirts (not knit or crochet)$11,138,463,000+6.3%SPD
151Cocoa beans$10,847,901,000+11.7%CPND
152Antibiotics$10,833,128,000-7.9%CPND
153Spectacles, goggles$10,811,082,000+10%SYD
154Miscellaneous live plants$10,807,747,000+19.1%CPND
155Unsweetened milk/cream$10,560,939,000+15.1%CPND
156Crustaceans, molluscs (prepared)$10,489,615,000+18.7%CPND
157Tomatoes$10,459,202,000+5.2%CPND
158Fresh/dried flowers$10,288,073,000+25%CPND
159Butter$10,037,513,000+13.3%CPND
160Red meat offal$9,921,544,000+12.1%CPND
161Prepared vegetables (frozen)$9,840,903,000+13.6%CPND
162Men's shirts (not knit or crochet)$9,840,464,000+1%SPD
163Primary batteries/cells$9,636,898,000+7.1%SPD
164Prefabricated buildings$9,627,709,000+25.6%SYD
165Carnival items, magic tricks$9,526,420,000+32.4%SYD
166Cherries/peaches/nectarines/plums$9,513,010,000+17.1%CPND
167Provitamins, vitamins$9,461,880,000+4.2%CPND
168Precious/semi-precious stones (unstrung)$9,101,543,000+91.9%SYD
169Medication mixes not in dosage$9,098,223,000-31.5%CPND
170Household glassware$9,034,969,000+29.3%SPD
171Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates$8,975,577,000+6.2%CPND
172Sowing seeds, fruits, spores$8,884,822,000+7.1%CPND
173Caps, lids, corks, pouring stoppers$8,876,679,000+19.2%SPD
174Olive oil$8,748,491,000+12.3%CPND
175Sheep or goat meat$8,723,977,000+17.8%CPND
176Miscellaneous wooden articles$8,551,060,000+21.5%SPD
177Infant clothing (knit or crochet)$8,310,682,000+24.8%SPD
178Wide knit or crochet fabrics$8,269,679,000+37.9%SPD
179Insoles, heel cushions$8,134,877,000+19.3%SPD
180Compasses, other navigational aids$8,124,556,000+7.4%SYD
181Men's underwear (knit/crochet)$8,099,200,000+31.6%SPD
182Special garments including sports$8,050,862,000+22.6%SPD
183Vegetable saps, extracts$7,926,666,000+11.5%CPND
184Speed/distance meters$7,864,539,000+8.7%SYD
185Glass mirrors$7,556,315,000+20.3%SPD
186Aluminum household items$7,531,524,000+33.9%SPD
187Enamel paints, varnishes$7,526,324,000+17.4%SPD
188Frozen vegetables$7,418,412,000+2.9%CPND
189Prepared cereal foods$7,416,437,000+3.5%CPND
190Frozen fruits, nuts$7,401,169,000+24.4%CPND
191Onions, garlic, leeks$7,363,132,000+1.2%CPND
192Oral/dental hygiene preparations$7,265,725,000+7.9%CPND
193Tea (including flavored)$7,229,145,000+5%CPND
194Leather clothing, accessories$7,217,093,000+16.9%SPD
195Spectacle/goggle frames, mountings$7,193,663,000+32.2%SYD
196Tufted carpets/textile floor coverings$7,138,268,000+21.2%SPD
197Margarine$7,105,713,000+33.4%CPND
198Knit/crochet hats, other headgear$6,821,497,000+31%SPD
199Men's shirts (knit or crochet)$6,799,672,000+7.9%SPD
200Imitation jewelry$6,541,446,000+26.7%SPD

You can also peruse the greatest increases or decreases in product values from 2020 to 2021. To do so, click on the heading of the fourth column.

The world’s most popular product type is convenience products (CP) led by processed petroleum oils, petroleum gas, medications, coal including briquettes, and miscellaneous items made from plastic. Convenience products represent 87 of world’s top 200 imported consumer goods.

In second place via 83 entries are shopping products (SD) led by cars, mobile phones, computers, and automobile parts or accessories.

The third product category encompasses speciality products (SY) with 30 entries. Examples of world-leading speciality products are global imports of gold, diamonds, electric storage batteries, and jewelry.

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. By product type, note that all shopping products and speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

Non-durable consumer products (ND) 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.

Based on the product types identified in the above table, 113 of world’s highest-value consumer imported products are durable while 87 are classified as non-durable.

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.

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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