The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Michigan’s global shipments during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Michigan.

Figures are shown at the more granular six-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, for more precise product identification.

1. Small gas-powered trucks: $48.1 billion (8.3% of Michigan’s exports)
2. Large automobiles (piston engine): $38.6 billion (6.7%)
3. Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $29.5 billion (5.1%)
4. Motor vehicle transmissions: $25.8 billion (4.5%)
5. Miscellaneous motor vehicle parts: $20 billion (3.4%)
6. Large spark-ignition engines: $17.6 billion (3%)
7. Mid-sized automobiles (piston engine): $16.1 billion (2.8%)
8. Aircraft including engines, parts: $11 billion (1.9%)
9. Vehicle rear-view mirrors: $10.4 billion (1.8%)
10. Vehicle drive axels: $9.5 billion (1.6%)

Michigan’s top 10 exports accounted for 39.1% of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Large spark-ignition engines was the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories, up by 28.7% from 2017 to 2018.

In second place for improving export sales were mid-sized automobiles with piston engines which rose 12.2% in total value.

Michigan-made aircraft including engines and other parts posted the third-fastest gain in value up by 7.1%, trailed by the 6.3% increase for Michigan’s international trade in motor vehicle transmissions.

The biggest decliner among Michigan’s top 10 export products were miscellaneous motor vehicle parts which fell in value by -38.7% year over year.

Overall, Michigan incurred an -$87 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2018. That dollar amount reflects an 8.2% year-over-year increase from $80.4 billion in red ink for 2017.

Another way of saying surplus or deficit is positive or negative net exports. In a nutshell, the term “net exports” quantifies the amount by which foreign spending on a state’s goods or services exceeds or lags that same state’s spending on foreign goods or services.

In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.

Below are Michigan’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2018.

1. Mid-sized automobiles (piston engine): $15.8 billion (10.8% of Michigan’s imports)
2. Large automobiles (piston engine): $15.7 billion (10.7%)
3. Small gas-powered trucks: $12.4 billion (8.4%)
4. Small automobiles (piston engine): $10.9 billion (7.4%)
5. Large spark-ignition engines: $4.8 billion (3.2%)
6. Miscellaneous motor vehicle parts: $4.6 billion (3.1%)
7. Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $4.5 billion (3.1%)
8. Small diesel-powered trucks: $3.8 billion (2.6%)
9. Motor vehicle transmissions: $2.7 billion (1.9%)
10. Seat parts: $2.7 billion (1.8%)

Michigan has highly negative net exports in the international trade of crude oil. This showing the strong impact of foreign-supplied energy on Michigan’s global balance sheet.

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchase 83.6% worth of the total value of products exported from Michigan during 2018.

1. Canada $23.8 billion (41.1% of Michigan’s total exports)
2. Mexico $12.3 billion (21.2%)
3. China $3.6 billion (6.1%)
4. Germany $2 billion (3.4%)
5. Japan $1.4 billion (2.5%)
6. South Korea $1.4 billion (2.4%)
7. Italy $1.3 billion (2.2%)
8. Brazil $1 billion (1.8%)
9. United Kingdom $908 million (1.6%)
10. Belgium $758 million (1.3%)

Michigan’s trade partners in North America, Canada and Mexico, account for well over three-fifths (62.3%) of the overall value of exported goods from the state.

Michigan’s Export Companies

Five of Michigan-headquartered corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. These are shown in the top positions listed below.

The other 5 leading companies headquartered in Michigan are leading American businesses according to the Fortune 500 ranking.

• General Motors (automobile manufacturer)
• Dow Chemical (diversified chemicals)
• Ford Motor (automobile manufacturer)
• Whirlpool (household appliances)
• Penske Automotive (automobile parts, accessories)
• Lear Corp (automotive seating, electrical)
• Kellogg’s (processed foods)
• Stryker Corporation (medical devices)
• DTE Energy (electricity, natural gas)
• BorgWarner (vehicle transmissions)

Shown within brackets for each company is a summary of the international trade-related product category which each company sells.