The worldwide value for all US purchases of imported cars in 2018 showed a 14.2% increase since 2014 but a -0.6% slowdown from 2017 to 2018.
Among suppliers in the latest reporting period, Japan overtook Canada to furnish 23.1% of America’s imported cars. America’s northern neighbor delivered 21.4% worth compared to 19.7% for third-place Mexico. Cars shipped to the US from the European Union were valued at $45.3 billion, at 25.4% eclipsing leading country Japan’s share of the American imported cars market.
Countries Exporting Cars to America
Top 15
America’s top 15 suppliers of imported cars in 2018 attracted 98.6% of US car purchases from foreign markets, with almost three-quarters (64.3%) of the overall value coming from Japan, Canada and Mexico.
- Japan: US$41.3 billion (23.1% of total US imported cars)
- Canada: $38.2 billion (21.4%)
- Mexico: $35.2 billion (19.7%)
- Germany: $18.8 billion (10.6%)
- South Korea: $14.1 billion (7.9%)
- United Kingdom: $9.8 billion (5.5%)
- Italy: $4.7 billion (2.6%)
- Slovakia: $3 billion (1.7%)
- Sweden: $2.9 billion (1.6%)
- China: $1.8 billion (1%)
- Finland: $1.8 billion (1%)
- India: $1.2 billion (0.7%)
- Austria: $1.1 billion (0.6%)
- Hungary: $883.1 million (0.5%)
- Belgium: $763 million (0.4%)
Fastest-growing among these top suppliers since 2014 were India (up 704,801%), Finland (up 15,738%), China (up 950.6%), Sweden (up 261.6%), Slovakia (up 179.5%) then Italy (up 101.5%).
There were two four decliners over the 5-year period, namely car exporters from Hungary (down -43.9%), Germany (down -28.2%), Canada (-11.8%) and South Korea (down -5.5%).
Deficit Creators
America is a key producer and seller of its own cars on international markets. In 2018, the United States shipped $51.4 billion worth of cars to its trade partners. Still, American revenues from its exported cars equal just over a quarter (28.8%) of the $178.5 billion that the US spent on imported cars.
The US product category trade deficit specific to cars was -$127.1 billion. That amount of red ink reflects a 34.2% increase from -$126.1 billion shortfall during 2017.
Below you will find the 15 countries that caused America’s highest negative subtotal (-$145.4 billion) from buying and selling cars on international markets in 2018.
- Japan: -US$40.6 billion (product deficit up 19.2% since 2014)
- Mexico: -$32.2 billion (up 80.8%)
- Canada: -$23.2 billion (down -17.2%)
- Germany: -$13 billion (down -37.1%)
- South Korea: -$12.4 billion (down -10.9%)
- United Kingdom: -$8.2 billion (up 137.4%)
- Italy: -$4.4 billion (up 117.3%)
- Slovakia: -$3 billion (up 179.6%)
- Sweden: -$2.8 billion (up 307.7%)
- Finland: -$1.6 billion (reversing a $123.2 million surplus)
- India: -$1.1 billion (reversing a $48.8 million surplus)
- Austria: -$1.1 billion (up 56.4%)
- Hungary: -$854.6 million (down -44.7%)
- Spain: -$542.5 million (up 81.4%)
- Turkey: -$488.2 million (reversing an $89.5 million surplus)
From 2014 to 2018, the US went from black ink to red ink with three of its top cars-trading partners namely Finland, India and Turkey.
On a percentage basis, America’s deficits for cars widened at triple digits with Sweden (up 307.7%), Slovakia (up 179.6%), the United Kingdom (up 137.4%) and Italy (up 117.3%).
The US was able to pare down the size of its negative trade balances with Hungary (down -44.7%), Germany (down -37.1%), Canada (down -17.2%) and South Korea (down -10.9%).
Surpluses
The United States did earn surpluses from the global car trade with 170+ other countries, islands or territories.
Among the 15 trade partners below, America captured $15.1 billion in positive cashflow during 2018.
- China: US$4.9 billion (product surplus down -55.7% since 2014)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.9 billion (down -28.7%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1.7 billion (down -56.1%)
- Australia: $1.5 billion (down -15.7%)
- Norway: $851.6 million (up 94.5%)
- Nigeria: $665.6 million (down -20.9%)
- Kuwait: $630.8 million (down -10.9%)
- Jordan: $518 million (up 39.1%)
- Chile: $453.6 million (up 13.1%)
- Taiwan: $373.4 million (up 74.4%)
- Dominican Republic: $358.4 million (up 15.7%)
- Switzerland: $318.4 million (up 42.2%)
- Oman: $287.7 million (down -13.1%)
- Ukraine: $280 million (up 411.2%)
- New Zealand: $276.4 million (up 17.5%)
The US grew its individual trade surpluses at the fastest rates at the expense of Ukraine (up 411.2%), Norway (up 94.5%), Taiwan (up 74.4%), Switzerland (up 42.2%) then Jordan (up 39.1%).
In contrast, American surpluses from buying and selling cars shrank the most over the 5-year period with: Saudi Arabia (down -56.1%), China (down -55.7%), United Arab Emirates (down -28.7%) then Nigeria (down -20.9%).
Searchable List of US Imported Cars Suppliers
The table below shows the dollar amount for cars sold to the US in 2018 by country. Also shown is the percentage value change for each supplier since 2017.
You can change presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of the columns.
| Rank | Supplier | Imported Cars (US$) | 2017-18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Japan | $41.3 billion | +1.4% |
| 2. | Canada | $38.2 billion | -12.7% |
| 3. | Mexico | $35.2 billion | 15.1% |
| 4. | Germany | $18.8 billion | -9.5% |
| 5. | South Korea | $14.1 billion | -12.1% |
| 6. | United Kingdom | $9.8 billion | +10.8% |
| 7. | Italy | $4.7 billion | -7.5% |
| 8. | Slovakia | $3 billion | +48.6% |
| 9. | Sweden | $2.9 billion | +36.7% |
| 10. | China | $1.8 billion | -1.9% |
| 11. | Finland | $1.8 billion | +49.7% |
| 12. | India | $1.2 billion | +912.2% |
| 13. | Austria | $1.1 billion | +222.2% |
| 14. | Hungary | $883.1 million | -27.5% |
| 15. | Belgium | $763 million | +29.4% |
| 16. | Netherlands | $677.7 million | +20.6% |
| 17. | Spain | $633.2 million | -22.5% |
| 18. | Turkey | $554.3 million | -39.2% |
| 19. | South Africa | $473 million | -56.6% |
| 20. | Thailand | $240.1 million | +27.4% |
| 21. | France | $114.7 million | -47.2% |
| 22. | Taiwan | $99.1 million | +4.6% |
| 23. | Poland | $77.8 million | +7.9% |
| 24. | Brazil | $26.8 million | -80.1% |
| 25. | Serbia | $16.9 million | -42.2% |
| 26. | Vietnam | $5.2 million | +6.1% |
| 27. | Ukraine | $4.9 million | +424.7% |
| 28. | Denmark | $3 million | -19.5% |
| 29. | Czech Republic | $2.2 million | +12.9% |
| 30. | Egypt | $1.3 million | +1.9% |
| 31. | Australia | $1.1 million | -99.1% |
| 32. | United Arab Emirates | $797,000 | +323.9% |
| 33. | Colombia | $437,000 | +108.1% |
| 34. | Venezuela | $402,000 | +17.9% |
| 35. | Luxembourg | $310,000 | -9.1% |
| 36. | Russia | $284,000 | -46.9% |
| 37. | Switzerland | $246,000 | -78% |
| 38. | New Zealand | $165,000 | -87.1% |
| 39. | Israel | $161,000 | -73.7% |
| 40. | Ireland | $129,000 | -36.8% |
| 41. | Argentina | $116,000 | -99.2% |
| 42. | Greece | $112,000 | -39.8% |
| 43. | Costa Rica | $106,000 | +63.1% |
| 44. | Portugal | $106,000 | -88.9% |
| 45 | Mali | $100,000 | -89.6% |
| 46 | Saudi Arabia | $89,000 | -38.6% |
| 47 | Norway | $65,000 | +1,525% |
| 48 | Lebanon | $55,000 | +685.7% |
| 49 | Latvia | $40,000 | -59.2% |
| 50 | Indonesia | $37,000 | -15.9% |
| 51 | Romania | $36,000 | +33.3% |
| 52 | Dominican Republic | $31,000 | +10.7% |
| 53 | Qatar | $25,000 | -10.7% |
| 54 | Kuwait | $19,000 | -50% |
| 55 | Panama | $19,000 | -50% |
| 56 | Uruguay | $14,000 | -82.1% |
| 57 | Bangladesh | $12,000 | -84.6% |
| 58 | Peru | $12,000 | +100% |
| 59 | Georgia | $9,000 | +80% |
| 60 | Zimbabwe | $7,000 | +40% |
| 61 | Guatemala | $6,000 | +20% |
| 62 | Haiti | $6,000 | +20% |
| 63 | Bahamas | $5,000 | no 2017 data |
| 64 | Bulgaria | $5,000 | -66.7% |
| 65 | Ghana | $5,000 | -66.7% |
| 66 | Lithuania | $5,000 | -78.3% |
| 67 | Ecuador | $4,000 | -94.8% |
| 68 | Hong Kong | $3,000 | -96.1% |
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 March 14, 2019
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on March 14, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on March 14, 2019
Wikipedia, Car. Accessed on March 14, 2019
Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers. Accessed on March 14, 2019
Wikipedia, List of car brands. Accessed on March 14, 2019