by Flagpictures.org
Based on estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, exported goods plus services supplied by the United States represent 12.2% of total American economic output or Gross Domestic Product. The analysis below focuses on exported products only.
Given America’s population of 326.6 million people, its total $1.547 trillion in 2017 export revenue translates to roughly $4,700 for every resident in the United States.
From January to September 2018, America’s exported goods were valued at $1.242 trillion. This 9-month metric puts U.S. exports on track for an annualized $1.656 trillion estimated for all 2018.
America’s unemployment rate was 4.1% as of January 2018 — a healthy improvement from the 4.8% jobless rate as reported by Trading Economics 12 months earlier.
United States Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in American global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from the United States.
- Machinery including computers: US$201.7 billion (13% of total exports)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $174.2 billion (11.3%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $138 billion (8.9%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $131.2 billion (8.5%)
- Vehicles: $130.1 billion (8.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $83.6 billion (5.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $61.5 billion (4%)
- Gems, precious metals: $60.4 billion (3.9%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $45.1 billion (2.9%)
- Organic chemicals: $36.2 billion (2.3%)
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of America’s Most Valuable Export Products further down near the bottom of this article.
America’s top 10 exports accounted for over two-thirds (69.2%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Among the top 10 export categories year over year, mineral fuels including oil was the fastest-growing U.S. shipment via its 47.3% value gain from 2016 to 2017.
In second place for improving export sales were organic chemicals which rose 6.6%.
America’s exported machinery including computers appreciated by 5.8% year over year.
There were two decliners among America’s top 10 export categories in 2017 compared to 2016: aircraft and spacecraft (down -2.7%) and pharmaceuticals (down -4.1%).
Advantages
The following types of American product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
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.
- Aircraft, spacecraft: US$100.3 billion (Down by -3.3% since 2016)
- Oil seeds: $24 billion (Down by -4.8%)
- Cereals: $16.2 billion (Down by -2.8%)
- Other chemical goods: $13.9 billion (Up by 20.9%)
- Meat: $8.2 billion (Up by 21.4%)
- Cotton: $6.7 billion (Up by 42.4%)
- Food industry waste, animal fodder: $6.7 billion (Down by -5.8%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $6.6 billion (Down by -20%)
- Woodpulp: $5.6 billion (Up by 5.9%)
- Soaps, washing preparations, lubricants, waxes: $3.8 billion (Up by 1.7%)
United States has highly positive net exports in the international trade of aircraft launching gear and other on-deck landing equipment. In turn, these cashflows indicate America’s strong competitive advantages under the aerospace product category.
Opportunities
Overall the US compiled a -$862.7 billion trade deficit for 2017, expanding by 8.1% from the -$797.8 billion deficit for all products one year earlier during 2016.
As of June 2018, America’s trade deficit stood at -$438.4 billion up 6.8% compared to the first 6 months of 2017.
Below are exports from the United States that are negative net exports or product trade balance deficits for 2017. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on American goods trail U.S. importer spending on foreign products.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -US$182.5 billion (Up by 8.2% since 2016)
- Vehicles: -$164.5 billion (Up by 2.6%)
- Machinery including computers: -$147.5 billion (Up by 18.2%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: -$66.2 billion (Down by -4.7%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: -$56.5 billion (Up by 8.3%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$51.4 billion (Up by 12.8%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$43.1 billion (Up by 0.7%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$35.6 billion (Down by -1.9%)
- Toys, games: -$25.8 billion (Up by 6.6%)
- Footwear: -$25.2 billion (Up by 0.05%)
United States has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for electronics-related equipment, notably consumer electronics.
The resulting cashflow deficiency clearly exemplifies US competitive disadvantages in the international electronics market, but also represents a key opportunity for United States to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations and creative employment initiatives in the homeland.
Companies
American Export Companies
Wikipedia lists many of the larger international trade players from the United States:
- Apple (computer hardware)
- Exxon Mobil (oil, gas)
- Johnson & Johnson (medical equipment, supplies)
- Chevron Corporation (oil, gas)
- Procter & Gamble (household, personal care items)
- Pfizer (pharmaceuticals)
- The Coca-Cola Company (beverages)
- Merck & Co (pharmaceuticals)
- Qualcomm (semiconductors)
- Philip Morris International (tobacco)
- Intel (semiconductors)
- Schlumberger (oil, gas)
- PepsiCo (beverages)
- Cisco Systems (communications equipment)
- Boeing (aerospace)
- ConocoPhillips (oil, gas)
- AbbVie (pharmaceuticals)
- Occidental Petroleum (oil, gas)
- Eli Lilly and Company (pharmaceuticals)
Searchable List of America’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, America’s top export products are refined petroleum oils followed by cars then automotive parts and accessories.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from the United States during 2017. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2016.
| Rank | US Export Product | 2017 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Processed petroleum oils | $77.8 billion | +25.6% |
| 2 | Cars | $53.6 billion | -0.5% |
| 3 | Automobile parts/accessories | $44.9 billion | +4.5% |
| 4 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $38.1 billion | +9.1% |
| 5 | Mobile phones, other phone system devices | $34 billion | +0.5% |
| 6 | Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays) | $26.5 billion | +0.2% |
| 7 | Computers, optical readers | $25.3 billion | +4.2% |
| 8 | Petroleum gases | $22.3 billion | +67.8% |
| 9 | Crude oil | $21.8 billion | +131.6% |
| 10 | Soya beans | $21.7 billion | -5.3% |
| 11 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $20.3 billion | +6.4% |
| 12 | Medication mixes in dosage | $20.1 billion | -10.7% |
| 13 | Gold (unwrought) | $19.8 billion | +12.1% |
| 14 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $19 billion | -2.6% |
| 15 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $17.6 billion | +37.5% |
| 16 | Computer parts, accessories | $16.1 billion | +0.5% |
| 17 | Trucks | $15.7 billion | +21.9% |
| 18 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $11.6 billion | +4.8% |
| 19 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $10.4 billion | +3.1% |
| 20 | Jewelry | $10.3 billion | +4.9% |
| 21 | Insulated wire/cable | $9.9 billion | +5% |
| 22 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $9.9 billion | +127.3% |
| 23 | Turbo-jets | $9.7 billion | -0.064 |
| 24 | Corn | $9.6 billion | -7% |
| 25 | Orthopedic appliances | $9.5 billion | +1.8% |
| 26 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $9.3 billion | +5.5% |
| 27 | Hand-drawn paintings, drawings | $8.8 billion | +6.3% |
| 28 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $8.5 billion | +5.1% |
| 29 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $8.1 billion | +0.6% |
| 30 | Miscellaneous nuts | $7.9 billion | +7.9% |
| 31 | Ethylene polymers | $7.7 billion | +2.1% |
| 32 | Miscellaneous machinery | $7.3 billion | +14.5% |
| 33 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $7.2 billion | -1.7% |
| 34 | Air or vacuum pumps | $7 billion | +6.5% |
| 35 | Piston engines | $7 billion | +10.5% |
| 36 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $6.8 billion | +6.2% |
| 37 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $6.6 billion | +6.8% |
| 38 | Diesel/semi-diesel engines | $6.4 billion | +31.7% |
| 39 | Piston engine parts | $6.2 billion | +4.1% |
| 40 | Wheat | $6.1 billion | +13.7% |
| 41 | Electrical converters/power units | $6 billion | +3% |
| 42 | Machinery parts | $5.9 billion | -0.1% |
| 43 | Cotton (uncarded, uncombed) | $5.8 billion | +47.2% |
| 44 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $5.8 billion | -0.2% |
| 45 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $5.8 billion | +6.1% |
| 46 | Aircraft parts | $5.7 billion | -9.1% |
| 47 | Other food preparations | $5.6 billion | -3.7% |
| 48 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $5.6 billion | +2.8% |
| 49 | Other measuring/testing machines | $5.4 billion | +9.5% |
| 50 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $5.4 billion | +5.7% |
| 51 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $5.3 billion | +12.7% |
| 52 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $5.2 billion | -0.04% |
| 53 | Printing machinery | $5.1 billion | -4.5% |
| 54 | Iron or steel scrap | $4.9 billion | +37.3% |
| 55 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $4.8 billion | -9.5% |
| 56 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $4.8 billion | +4.9% |
| 57 | Electrical machinery | $4.8 billion | +11% |
| 58 | Rubber tires (new) | $4.7 billion | +4.1% |
| 59 | Tractors | $4.6 billion | +16.5% |
| 60 | Swine meat | $4.6 billion | +8.3% |
| 61 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $4.5 billion | +4.8% |
| 62 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $4.5 billion | +8% |
| 63 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $4.5 billion | +11.5% |
| 64 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $4.5 billion | +26.5% |
| 65 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $4.4 billion | -3.8% |
| 66 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $4.4 billion | +5.5% |
| 67 | Unrecorded sound media | $4.3 billion | +9.9% |
| 68 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $4.3 billion | +5.9% |
| 69 | X-ray equipment | $4.2 billion | +3.9% |
| 70 | Bombs, grenades, ammunition | $4.2 billion | -2.1% |
| 71 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $4.1 billion | +8.2% |
| 72 | Electric motors, generators | $4.1 billion | +1.3% |
| 73 | Petroleum oil residues | $4.1 billion | +43.2% |
| 74 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $3.9 billion | -45.7% |
| 75 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $3.9 billion | +0.7% |
| 76 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $3.9 billion | +13.7% |
| 77 | Temperature-change machines | $3.8 billion | -1.2% |
| 78 | Sawn wood | $3.8 billion | +14.8% |
| 79 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $3.7 billion | -18.6% |
| 80 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $3.7 billion | +11.1% |
| 81 | Poultry meat | $3.6 billion | +9.4% |
| 82 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $3.6 billion | -1.4% |
| 83 | Trailers | $3.6 billion | +11.6% |
| 84 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $3.5 billion | -1% |
| 85 | Regulate/control instruments | $3.5 billion | -1.9% |
| 86 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $3.5 billion | +12.5% |
| 87 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $3.5 billion | +4.4% |
| 88 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $3.4 billion | +5.9% |
| 89 | Uncoated kraft paper | $3.4 billion | +13.3% |
| 90 | Fresh or chilled beef | $3.4 billion | +26.1% |
| 91 | Electric storage batteries | $3.4 billion | +7.1% |
| 92 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $3.2 billion | +13.8% |
| 93 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $3.2 billion | +11.6% |
| 94 | Paper/paperboard waste, scrap | $3.2 billion | +1.4% |
| 95 | Hormones, miscellaneous steroids | $3.2 billion | -3.4% |
| 96 | Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools | $3.2 billion | +0.8% |
| 97 | Soya-bean oil-cake, other solid residues | $3.1 billion | -5% |
| 98 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $3.1 billion | +6.5% |
| 99 | Table games, bowling equipment | $3.1 billion | +20.5% |
| 100 | Ethers | $3 billion | +12.6% |
| 101 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $3 billion | +4.7% |
| 102 | Miscellaneous furniture | $2.9 billion | +1.3% |
| 103 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $2.8 billion | +7% |
| 104 | Frozen beef | $2.8 billion | +9.9% |
| 105 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $2.8 billion | -1.1% |
| 106 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $2.8 billion | +9.5% |
| 107 | Vulcanized rubber items | $2.8 billion | +6.5% |
| 108 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $2.8 billion | +1.6% |
| 109 | Anti-knock/oxidation/gum inhibitors | $2.8 billion | +6.2% |
| 110 | Copper waste, scrap | $2.8 billion | +23.5% |
| 111 | Radar, radio communication items | $2.7 billion | +19.3% |
| 112 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $2.7 billion | +4.3% |
| 113 | Synthetic rubber | $2.7 billion | +10.9% |
| 114 | Refrigerators, freezers | $2.7 billion | -0.002 |
| 115 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $2.7 billion | +5.7% |
| 116 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $2.6 billion | +4.6% |
| 117 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $2.6 billion | -4.4% |
| 118 | Beet-pulp, brew/distilling waste | $2.6 billion | -9.2% |
| 119 | Spraying mechanical appliances | $2.6 billion | -0.018 |
| 120 | Air conditioners | $2.6 billion | -6.5% |
| 121 | Ethyl alcohol | $2.5 billion | +16.3% |
| 122 | Platinum (unwrought) | $2.4 billion | +61% |
| 123 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $2.4 billion | +26.6% |
| 124 | Rough wood | $2.4 billion | +14.7% |
| 125 | Cellulose fiber paper | $2.4 billion | +4.4% |
| 126 | Polyamides | $2.3 billion | +6.6% |
| 127 | Printed books, brochures | $2.3 billion | -1.3% |
| 128 | Fork-lift trucks | $2.3 billion | +13.8% |
| 129 | Ball, roller bearings | $2.3 billion | +6.1% |
| 130 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $2.3 billion | +0.8% |
| 131 | Fertilizer mixes | $2.3 billion | +0.4% |
| 132 | Whole fish (frozen) | $2.3 billion | +25.3% |
| 133 | Acyclic alcohols | $2.3 billion | 0.213 |
| 134 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $2.2 billion | +24.0% |
| 135 | Coated paper | $2.2 billion | +5.4% |
| 136 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $2.1 billion | +10.9% |
| 137 | Hydrogen, rare gases | $2.1 billion | -4.1% |
| 138 | Precious/semi-precious stones (unstrung) | $2.1 billion | +36.3% |
| 139 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $2.1 billion | +6.7% |
| 140 | Machine tools parts, accessories | $2.1 billion | +3% |
| 141 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $2.1 billion | +12.2% |
| 142 | Hydrocarbon derivatives | $2 billion | +23% |
| 143 | Sports equipment | $2 billion | +3.6% |
| 144 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $2 billion | +2.4% |
| 145 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $2 billion | +1.2% |
| 146 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $1.9 billion | -1.8% |
| 147 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $1.9 billion | 0.016 |
| 148 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $1.9 billion | -2.8% |
| 149 | Coated/laminated non-wovens | $1.9 billion | +7.4% |
| 150 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $1.8 billion | +8.8% |
| 151 | #N/A | $1.8 billion | +8.3% |
| 152 | Armored vehicles, tanks | $1.8 billion | +2.2% |
| 153 | Rice | $1.8 billion | -2.7% |
| 154 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $1.8 billion | +3.4% |
| 155 | Printed circuits | $1.8 billion | -5.6% |
| 156 | Lifting/loading machinery | $1.7 billion | -7% |
| 157 | Acrylic polymers | $1.7 billion | +5.2% |
| 158 | Sculptures, statues | $1.7 billion | -1.9% |
| 159 | Sauces, preparations | $1.7 billion | +3.3% |
| 160 | Copper ores, concentrates | $1.7 billion | -28.9% |
| 161 | Saturated acyclic mono acids | $1.7 billion | +5% |
| 162 | Amino-resins | $1.7 billion | +6.6% |
| 163 | Electrical capacitators | $1.7 billion | +17.4% |
| 164 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $1.7 billion | +2.9% |
| 165 | Lubricant preparations | $1.6 billion | +4% |
| 166 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $1.6 billion | -0.5% |
| 167 | Glass mirrors | $1.6 billion | +9.1% |
| 168 | Medication mixes not in dosage | $1.6 billion | +3.5% |
| 169 | Carbonates, percarbonates | $1.6 billion | +7.5% |
| 170 | Sodium/potash hydroxide, peroxide | $1.6 billion | +66.4% |
| 171 | Red meat offal | $1.6 billion | +4.1% |
| 172 | Surveying equipment | $1.6 billion | +6% |
| 173 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $1.6 billion | +0.3% |
| 174 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $1.5 billion | +8.7% |
| 175 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $1.5 billion | +17.8% |
| 176 | Mechano-therapy appliances | $1.5 billion | +4.5% |
| 177 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $1.5 billion | +15.9% |
| 178 | Prepared glues, adhesives | $1.5 billion | +7.1% |
| 179 | Bovine/equine rawhides, skins | $1.5 billion | +3.5% |
| 180 | Wine | $1.5 billion | -5.5% |
| 181 | Zinc ores, concentrates | $1.5 billion | +51.3% |
| 182 | Special purpose vehicles | $1.5 billion | -11% |
| 183 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $1.5 billion | +21.1% |
| 184 | Hay, alfalfa, clover | $1.5 billion | +2.2% |
| 185 | Cheese, curd | $1.5 billion | +20.4% |
| 186 | Telecommunication receivers | $1.4 billion | +8.3% |
| 187 | Styrene polymers | $1.4 billion | +9.2% |
| 188 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $1.4 billion | +7.5% |
| 189 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $1.4 billion | +32.6% |
| 190 | Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream | $1.4 billion | +6.2% |
| 191 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $1.4 billion | +0.5% |
| 192 | Flat-rolled iron/non-alloy steel goods (plated/coated) | $1.4 billion | +15.3% |
| 193 | Flat-rolled iron/non-alloy steel goods (non-stainless) | $1.4 billion | +15.1% |
| 194 | Hair preparations | $1.3 billion | +0.4% |
| 195 | Railway/streetcar miscellaneous parts | $1.3 billion | -15.5% |
| 196 | Pneumatic hand tool | $1.3 billion | -0.2% |
| 197 | Silicones | $1.3 billion | +7.7% |
| 198 | Solid-form sugars, fructose, glucose, lactose | $1.3 billion | +5.8% |
| 199 | Miscellaneous aluminum items | $1.3 billion | -5.1% |
| 200 | Electric generating sets, converters | $1.3 billion | -35% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$1.125 trillion or almost three-quarters (72.8%) by value for all products exported from the US during 2017.
See also United States Top 10 Imports, America’s Top Trading Partners, Top United States Trade Balances and America’s Top 20 Export States and United States Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 30, 2018
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 30, 2018
Wikipedia, List of Companies of United States. Accessed on July 30, 2018
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