
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Globally, the value for all US import purchases of cars in 2017 showed a 15.5% increase since 2013 and a 3.9% gain from 2016 to 2017.
Among countries, Canada furnished 24.4% of America’s imported cars while Japan supplied 22.7%. Cars delivered to the US from the European Union were valued at $43.9 billion roughly equivalent to Canada’s leading 24.4% share among provider countries.
Countries Exporting Cars to America
Top 15
America’s top 15 suppliers of cars in 2017 generated 98.6% of US purchases from foreign markets, with almost three-quarters (64.1%) of the overall value coming from Canada, Japan and Mexico.
- Canada: US$43.8 billion (24.4% of total US imported cars)
- Japan: $40.7 billion (22.7%)
- Mexico: $30.6 billion (17%)
- Germany: $20.8 billion (11.6%)
- South Korea: $16.1 billion (9%)
- United Kingdom: $8.8 billion (4.9%)
- Italy: $5.1 billion (2.8%)
- Sweden: $2.2 billion (1.2%)
- Slovakia: $2 billion (1.1%)
- China: $1.8 billion (1%)
- Hungary: $1.22 billion (0.7%)
- Finland: $1.17 billion (0.7%)
- South Africa: $1.1 billion (0.6%)
- Turkey: $911.8 million (0.5%)
- Spain: $816.9 million (0.5%)
Fastest-growing among these top suppliers were Finland (up 11,883% from 2013), Spain (up 4,572%) and China (up 1,759%).
There were two top decliners over the 5-year period, namely South Africa (down -50.4%) and Germany (down -19.8%).
America’s three leading providers grew their sales of cars to the US albeit at varying levels: Canada (up 0.1%), Japan (up 4.9%) and Mexico (up 49.4%).
Deficit Creators
America is a key producer and seller of its own cars on international markets. In 2017, the United States shipped $53.6 billion worth of cars to its trade partners. Still, American revenues from its exported cars are far less than a third of the $179.6 billion that the US spent on imported cars.
Overall, the US product category trade deficit for cars was -$126 billion. That amount of red ink reflects a 28.3% increase from -$98.2 billion during 2013.
Below you will find the 15 countries that caused America’s highest negative subtotals from buying and selling cars on international markets in 2017.
- Japan: -US$40.1 billion (product deficit up 5.5% since 2013)
- Canada: -$28.9 billion (down -2.3%)
- Mexico: -$27.4 billion (up 64%)
- Germany: -$14.7 billion (down -29.6%)
- South Korea: -$14.5 billion (up 24.2%)
- United Kingdom: -$6.9 billion (up 90.5%)
- Italy: -$4.9 billion (up 266.5%)
- Sweden: -$2.04 billion (up 245.6%)
- Slovakia: -$1.99 billion (up 123.2%)
- Hungary: -$1.19 billion (up 221.1%)
- Finland: -$1.13 billion (reversing a $259.4 million surplus)
- South Africa: -$987.9 million (down -48%)
- Turkey: -$852.2 million (reversing a $29.6 million surplus)
- Spain: -$741.8 million (reversing a $40 million surplus)
- Netherlands: -$321.9 million (reversing a $308.5 million surplus)
American trade deficits for cars from its leading suppliers widened at the fastest pace from 2013 to 2017 with Italy (up 266.5%), Sweden (up 245.6%), Hungary (up 221.1%), Slovakia (up 123.2%) and the United Kingdom (up 90.5%).
The US was able to reduce the size of its negative trade balances with South Africa (down -48%), Germany (down -29.6%) and top automobile supplier Canada (down -2.3%).
Surpluses
The United States did earn surpluses from the global car trade with 170+ other countries, islands or territories.
Most importantly, America captured $19.5-billion in positive cashflow during 2017 from buying and selling cars with the following 15 countries.
- China: US$8.8 billion (product surplus up 3.7% since 2013)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.7 billion (down -38.1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1.63 billion (down -66%)
- Australia: $1.61 billion (up 15.9%)
- Kuwait: $498.5 million (down -48.7%)
- Norway: $483.5 million (up 127.2%)
- Jordan: $420.1 million (down -27.9%)
- Chile: $380.5 million (down -30.3%)
- Hong Kong: $358.8 million (up 50.8%)
- Nigeria: $352.8 million (down -67.5%)
- Dominican Republic: $319.1 million (up 23.6%)
- New Zealand: $275.7 million (up 109.1%)
- Lebanon: $250 million (down -14%)
- Oman: $246.7 million (down -32.8%)
- Switzerland: $246 million (up 52.9%)
The US grew its individual trade surpluses at the fastest rates at the expense of Norway (up 127.2%), New Zealand (up 109.1%), Switzerland (up 52.9%), Hong Kong (up 50.8%) and the Dominican Republic (up 23.6%).
In contrast, American surplus from buying and selling cars shrank the most over the 5-year period with: Nigeria (down -67.5%), Saudi Arabia (down -66%), Kuwait (down -48.7%), United Arab Emirates (down -38.1%) then Oman (down -32.8%).
Searchable List of US Imported Cars Suppliers
The table below shows the dollar amount for cars sold to the US in 2017 by country. Also shown is the percentage value change for each supplier since 2013.
You can change presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of the columns.
Rank | Supplier | US Imported Cars | 2013-2017 |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Canada | US$43.8 billion | +0.1% |
2. | Japan | $40.7 billion | +4.9% |
3. | Mexico | $30.6 billion | +49.4% |
4. | Germany | $20.8 billion | -19.8% |
5. | South Korea | $16.1 billion | +29.1% |
6. | United Kingdom | $8.8 billion | +71% |
7. | Italy | $5.1 billion | +221.1% |
8. | Sweden | $2.2 billion | +203.3% |
9. | Slovakia | $2 billion | +123.3% |
10. | China | $1.8 billion | +1,759% |
11. | Hungary | $1.22 billion | +202.7% |
12. | Finland | $1.17 billion | +11,883% |
13. | South Africa | $1.1 billion | -50.4% |
14. | Turkey | $911.8 million | +666.5% |
15. | Spain | $816.9 million | +4,572% |
16. | Belgium | $589.6 million | -49.5% |
17. | Netherlands | $562 million | +38,133% |
18. | Austria | $355.3 million | -55.6% |
19. | France | $217.4 million | +36.7% |
20. | Thailand | $188.4 million | +140.5% |
21. | Brazil | $134.6 million | +4,281% |
22. | Australia | $129.8 million | -18.2% |
23. | India | $117 million | +23,536% |
24. | Taiwan | $94.7 million | +10.7% |
25. | Poland | $73.8 million | +171,453% |
26. | Serbia | $29.2 million | -91.4% |
27. | Argentina | $15.1 million | +42,951% |
28. | Vietnam | $4.9 million | +31.7% |
29. | Denmark | $3.7 million | +356.5% |
30. | Croatia | $2.9 million | No 2013 data |
31. | Czech Republic | $1.9 million | +1% |
32. | Egypt | $1.3 million | +734.6% |
33. | New Zealand | $1.3 million | +21,250% |
34. | Switzerland | $1.1 million | +139.7% |
35. | Portugal | $959,000 | -99.1% |
36. | Ukraine | $933,000 | +18,560% |
37. | Israel | $613,000 | +5,473% |
38. | Russia | $535,000 | -31.5% |
39. | Venezuela | $341,000 | +2,742% |
40. | Cayman Islands | $281,000 | +1,773% |
41. | Colombia | $210,000 | +813% |
42. | Oman | $207,000 | No 2013 data |
43. | Ireland | $204,000 | +17.9% |
44. | United Arab Emirates | $188,000 | +144.2% |
45. | Greece | $186,000 | +279.6% |
46. | Malta | $185,000 | No 2013 data |
47. | Nigeria | $162,000 | No 2013 data |
48. | Belize | $160,000 | No 2013 data |
49. | Saudi Arabia | $145,000 | +133.9% |
50. | Malaysia | $131,000 | No 2013 data |
51. | Singapore | $114,000 | No 2013 data |
52. | Latvia | $98,000 | No 2013 data |
53. | Uruguay | $78,000 | No 2013 data |
54. | Ecuador | $77,000 | +1,183% |
55. | Costa Rica | $65,000 | +282.4% |
56. | Jordan | $57,000 | No 2013 data |
57. | Macao | $45,000 | No 2013 data |
58. | Indonesia | $44,000 | +131.6% |
59. | Montserrat | $40,000 | No 2013 data |
60. | Kuwait | $38,000 | No 2013 data |
61. | Philippines | $32,000 | +60% |
62. | Dominican Republic | $28,000 | +211.1% |
63. | El Salvador | $28,000 | No 2013 data |
64. | Romania | $27,000 | No 2013 data |
65. | Lithuania | $23,000 | No 2013 data |
66. | Trinidad/Tobago | $21,000 | No 2013 data |
67. | Iceland | $20,000 | No 2013 data |
68. | Bulgaria | $15,000 | No 2013 data |
69. | Nicaragua | $15,000 | No 2013 data |
70. | Armenia | $12,000 | -42.9% |
71. | Bahrain | $11,000 | -45% |
72. | Moldova | $8,000 | No 2013 data |
73. | Honduras | $7,000 | No 2013 data |
74. | Lebanon | $7,000 | +40% |
75. | Paraguay | $7,000 | No 2013 data |
76. | Peru | $6,000 | No 2013 data |
77. | Slovenia | $6,000 | -64.7% |
78. | Barbados | $5,000 | No 2013 data |
79. | Georgia | $5,000 | -83.3% |
80. | Norway | $4,000 | No 2013 data |
81. | Uzbekistan | $3,000 | No 2013 data |
82. | Tanzania | $2,000 | No 2013 data |
See also US Exported & Imported Cars by State, America’s Top Trading Partners, Car Imports by Country and Top Cars Exporters by Country
Research Sources:
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 20, 2018
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on June 20, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on June 20, 2018
Wikipedia, Car. Accessed on June 20, 2018
Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers. Accessed on June 20, 2018
Wikipedia, List of car brands. Accessed on June 20, 2018