The cost of auto parts imported worldwide increased by an average 4.3% since 2017 when international purchases of auto parts were valued at $387.4 billion.
Year over year, the dollar total for globally imported automotive parts or accessories accelerated by 17.9% from $342.7 billion during 2020.
In 2021, the 5 biggest importers are the United States of America, Germany, mainland China, Mexico and France. That powerful quintet of buyers generated 45.2% of international spending on imported auto parts or accessories.
From a continental perspective, buyers in European countries spent the most on imported auto parts during 2021 with purchases amounting to $187.2 billion or 46.4% of the world total. In second place were North America importers at 28.3% while 19.7% of auto parts or accessories imported worldwide was delivered to Asia.
Smaller percentages arrived in Latin America (3.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.6%) and Oceania (0.8%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for automotive parts and accessories is 8708.
Automotive Parts Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that paid the most for imported auto parts during 2021.
- United States: US$74.1 billion (18.3% of imported auto parts)
- Germany: $37.9 billion (9.4%)
- China: $28.3 billion (7%)
- Mexico: $26 billion (6.4%)
- France: $16.3 billion (4%)
- Spain: $16.1 billion (4%)
- Canada: $14.2 billion (3.5%)
- United Kingdom: $12.1 billion (3%)
- Slovakia: $12.05 billion (3%)
- Czech Republic: $10.7 billion (2.7%)
- Russia: $10.7 billion (2.6%)
- Belgium: $10.2 billion (2.5%)
- Italy: $8.8 billion (2.2%)
- Poland: $8.7 billion (2.2%)
- Japan: $7.5 billion (1.8%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for auto parts since 2020 were: Russia (up 39.5%), France (up 26.6%), Poland (up 24.7%) and Italy (up 24.5%).
One top supplier posted a decline in its purchases of imported auto parts namely Canada with its -1.3% reduction from 2020.
The listed 15 countries purchased 72.7% of all auto parts imported in 2021.
Auto Parts Imports into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported auto parts totaled US$74.1 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the U.S. imported the highest dollar value worth of auto parts during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Mexico: US$26.2 billion (up 16.5% from 2020)
- China: $10.2 billion (up 27.3%)
- Canada: $9.4 billion (up 20.3%)
- Japan: $7.1 billion (up 22.1%)
- Germany: $5.2 billion (up 32.6%)
- South Korea: $5.2 billion (up 31.4%)
- Taiwan: $2.1 billion (up 18.6%)
- India: $1.7 billion (up 61.7%)
- Thailand: $1.1 billion (up 68.3%)
- Italy: $784.1 million (up 37.2%)
- Poland: $492.1 million (up 37.1%)
- Turkey: $443.9 million (up 43.8%)
- Vietnam: $409.8 million (up 61.7%)
- United Kingdom: $407.8 million (up 33.5%)
- Brazil: $295.2 million (up 25.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 95.9% of auto parts imported by the United States of America in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of auto parts to America since 2020 were: Thailand (up 68.3%), India (up 61.7%), Vietnam (up 61.7%) and Turkey (up 43.8%).
Countries that the mildest increases in the value of their auto parts supplied to American importers included: Mexico (up 16.5%), Taiwan (down 18.6%) and Canada (down 20.3%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported auto parts went up by an average 23.7% from all supplying countries since 2020 when auto parts purchased cost $59.9 billion.
Auto Parts Imports into Germany
Germany’s global purchases of imported auto parts totaled US$37.9 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of auto parts during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Czech Republic: US$5 billion (up 9.3% from 2020)
- Poland: $4.4 billion (up 6%)
- France: $3.1 billion (up 6.6%)
- Italy: $2.9 billion (up 22.3%)
- Hungary: $2.8 billion (up 12.7%)
- Austria: $2.7 billion (up 9.4%)
- Romania: $2.5 billion (up 1.4%)
- Slovakia: $2.3 billion (up 11.5%)
- China: $1.7 billion (up 33.7%)
- Spain: $1.6 billion (up 10.7%)
- Turkey: $1.2 billion (up 32.2%)
- United Kingdom: $806.4 million (down -5.3%)
- Belgium: $795 million (up 9.2%)
- United States of America: $780.5 million (up 19.5%)
- Netherlands: $663.3 million (up 11.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.8% of auto parts imported by Germany in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of auto parts to Germany since 2020 were: China (up 33.7%), Turkey (up 32.2%), Italy (up 22.3%) and United States of America (up 19.5%).
Only the United Kingdom experienced a decline in the value of auto parts supplied to German importers weighed down by a -5.3% reduction.
Overall, the value of Germany’s imported auto parts rose by an average 11.1% from all supplying countries since 2020 when auto parts purchased cost $34.1 billion.
Auto Parts Imports into China
China’s global purchases of imported auto parts totaled US$28.3 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of auto parts during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Germany: US$9.1 billion (up 8.3% from 2020)
- Japan: $6.3 billion (up 3.4%)
- United States of America: $2.4 billion (up 10.2%)
- South Korea: $1.4 billion (up 4.5%)
- Mexico: $1.2 billion (down -1.8%)
- France: $854.3 million (up 65.7%)
- Czech Republic: $749.7 million (up 12.9%)
- Portugal: $691.3 million (up 17.8%)
- Romania: $629.1 million (up 70.6%)
- Hungary: $592.9 million (up 20.8%)
- Poland: $581.8 million (up 18.8%)
- Vietnam: $420.5 million (up 37.3%)
- Thailand: $356.8 million (down -23.3%)
- Austria: $334 million (up 7%)
- Spain: $329.3 million (up 15.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.7% of auto parts imported by mainland China in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of auto parts to China since 2020 were: Romania (up 70.6%), France (up 65.7%), Vietnam (up 37.3%) and Hungary (up 20.8%).
Two countries experienced declines in the value of their auto parts supplied to Chinese importers namely Thailand (down -23.3% from 2020) and Mexico (down -1.8%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported auto parts increased by an average 9.9% from all supplying countries since 2020 when auto parts purchased cost $25.8 billion.
Auto Parts Imports into Mexico
Mexico’s global purchases of imported auto parts totaled US$26 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Mexico imported the highest dollar value worth of auto parts during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- United States of America: US$13.6 billion (up 12.2% from 2020)
- China: $3.2 billion (up 50.1%)
- Germany: $2.4 billion (up 38.7%)
- Japan: $1.7 billion (up 9.5%)
- Canada: $1.2 billion (up 4.3%)
- South Korea: $993.9 million (down -5.6%)
- Italy: $476 million (up 27.9%)
- India: $346 million (up 58.9%)
- Thailand: $258.9 million (up 44.5%)
- Spain: $230.8 million (up 45.9%)
- Taiwan: $171.3 million (up 44.6%)
- Poland: $151.2 million (up 16.6%)
- Hungary: $144.3 million (up 27.4%)
- Austria: $142.8 million (up 45.3%)
- Brazil: $135.2 million (up 29.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.6% of auto parts imported by Mexico in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of auto parts to Mexico since 2020 were: India (up 58.9%), China (up 50.1%), Spain (up 45.9%) and Austria (up 45.3%).
South Korea was the lone top supplier to experience a decline in the value of auto parts supplied to Mexican importers (down -5.6%).
Overall, the value of Mexico’s imported auto parts advanced by an average 18.4% from all supplying countries since 2020 when auto parts purchased cost $21.9 billion.
Searchable List of Auto Parts Importer Countries in 2021
The 100 major importers in the database below bought 99.5% of all imports for automotive parts or accessories in 2021.
| Rank | Importer | Auto Parts Imports (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $74,076,623,000 | +23.7% |
| 2. | Germany | $37,856,496,000 | +11.1% |
| 3. | China | $28,306,166,000 | +9.9% |
| 4. | Mexico | $25,961,684,000 | +18.4% |
| 5. | France | $16,344,693,000 | +26.6% |
| 6. | Spain | $16,124,708,000 | +10.9% |
| 7. | Canada | $14,217,559,000 | -1.3% |
| 8. | United Kingdom | $12,117,359,000 | +4.9% |
| 9. | Slovakia | $12,053,831,000 | +6.4% |
| 10. | Czech Republic | $10,734,085,000 | +11.1% |
| 11. | Russia | $10,670,590,000 | +39.5% |
| 12. | Belgium | $10,230,643,000 | +13.5% |
| 13. | Italy | $8,757,061,000 | +24.5% |
| 14. | Poland | $8,689,148,000 | +24.7% |
| 15. | Japan | $7,470,088,000 | +19% |
| 16. | Brazil | $7,142,473,000 | +40.9% |
| 17. | Thailand | $6,592,285,000 | +30.8% |
| 18. | Hungary | $6,554,085,000 | +15.8% |
| 19. | Netherlands | $6,121,730,000 | +20.9% |
| 20. | Sweden | $6,006,761,000 | +17.2% |
| 21. | Austria | $5,945,615,000 | +16% |
| 22. | Turkey | $5,812,371,000 | +11.2% |
| 23. | India | $4,905,372,000 | +51% |
| 24. | South Korea | $4,490,816,000 | +10.9% |
| 25. | Romania | $4,459,227,000 | +15.2% |
| 26. | Portugal | $3,215,459,000 | +12.8% |
| 27. | Indonesia | $3,127,534,000 | +69.8% |
| 28. | Argentina | $2,932,652,000 | +79.4% |
| 29. | Vietnam | $2,850,383,000 | +35.9% |
| 30. | Malaysia | $2,725,340,000 | +25.7% |
| 31. | United Arab Emirates | $2,578,446,000 | +1.2% |
| 32. | Australia | $2,438,795,000 | +33.1% |
| 33. | Finland | $2,111,049,000 | +24.1% |
| 34. | Taiwan | $1,914,041,000 | +16.6% |
| 35. | Morocco | $1,850,900,000 | +74.7% |
| 36. | South Africa | $1,689,525,000 | +41.3% |
| 37. | Singapore | $1,528,593,000 | +5.5% |
| 38. | Switzerland | $1,404,901,000 | +15.5% |
| 39. | Saudi Arabia | $1,209,862,000 | +28.9% |
| 40. | Denmark | $1,025,147,000 | +19.5% |
| 41. | Norway | $995,823,000 | +17% |
| 42. | Uzbekistan | $916,124,000 | +0.5% |
| 43. | Slovenia | $887,483,000 | -4.6% |
| 44. | Chile | $670,187,000 | +64.1% |
| 45. | Iran | $649,354,000 | +57.3% |
| 46. | Kazakhstan | $631,503,000 | +48.9% |
| 47. | Ukraine | $614,406,000 | +22.3% |
| 48. | Hong Kong | $599,080,000 | +17.5% |
| 49. | Colombia | $571,921,000 | +32.6% |
| 50. | Greece | $513,421,000 | +25.6% |
| 51. | Belarus | $505,965,000 | +6.2% |
| 52. | Serbia | $505,661,000 | +19.7% |
| 53. | Lithuania | $493,866,000 | +28.4% |
| 54. | Egypt | $490,883,000 | -20.4% |
| 55. | New Zealand | $445,549,000 | +44.9% |
| 56. | Algeria | $424,798,000 | -6.9% |
| 57. | Ireland | $407,330,000 | +10% |
| 58. | Philippines | $404,817,000 | +31.1% |
| 59. | Israel | $386,237,000 | +27.7% |
| 60. | Peru | $379,147,000 | +55.9% |
| 61. | Iraq | $354,033,000 | -32.4% |
| 62. | Bulgaria | $339,428,000 | +30.3% |
| 63. | Pakistan | $307,850,000 | +131.3% |
| 64. | Latvia | $289,103,000 | +19% |
| 65. | Luxembourg | $270,703,000 | +1% |
| 66. | Estonia | $257,847,000 | +33.9% |
| 67. | Croatia | $255,054,000 | +13.7% |
| 68. | Ecuador | $240,050,000 | +49.2% |
| 69. | Oman | $211,635,000 | -39.5% |
| 70. | Panama | $209,227,000 | +27.1% |
| 71. | Guatemala | $206,174,000 | +55.6% |
| 72. | Tunisia | $205,931,000 | +0.1% |
| 73. | Nigeria | $170,299,000 | -14.1% |
| 74. | Uruguay | $169,787,000 | +79.7% |
| 75. | Ghana | $165,241,000 | +8.8% |
| 76. | Libya | $157,479,000 | +9.1% |
| 77. | Sri Lanka | $151,175,000 | +217.9% |
| 78. | Kuwait | $139,595,000 | -40.6% |
| 79. | Bangladesh | $132,955,000 | +25.5% |
| 80. | Kenya | $125,446,000 | +13.7% |
| 81. | Jordan | $125,119,000 | +13.1% |
| 82. | Dominican Republic | $117,765,000 | +44.5% |
| 83. | Qatar | $116,258,000 | +8.3% |
| 84. | El Salvador | $113,456,000 | +79% |
| 85. | Azerbaijan | $110,912,000 | +42.9% |
| 86. | Lebanon | $102,093,000 | +25.5% |
| 87. | Yemen | $101,667,000 | +8% |
| 88. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $97,052,000 | +29.6% |
| 89. | Paraguay | $95,048,000 | +37.3% |
| 90. | Honduras | $93,307,000 | +76.3% |
| 91. | Papua New Guinea | $87,736,000 | +19.2% |
| 92. | Costa Rica | $85,245,000 | +26.1% |
| 93. | Sudan | $83,676,000 | -47.5% |
| 94. | Myanmar | $82,464,000 | -27.3% |
| 95. | Bolivia | $82,387,000 | +42.8% |
| 96. | North Macedonia | $81,146,000 | +18.7% |
| 97. | Botswana | $73,637,000 | +16.3% |
| 98. | Cyprus | $73,422,000 | +22.5% |
| 99. | Namibia | $71,983,000 | +21.8% |
| 100. | Zambia | $70,500,000 | +48.7% |
Leading the gainers from 2020 to 2021 were Sri Lanka (up 217.9%), Pakistan (up 131.3%), Uruguay (up 79.7%), Argentina (up 79.4%), El Salvador (up 79%), Honduras (up 76.3%) and Morocco (up 74.7%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns above. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that 2020 data was unavailable.
See also Automotive Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners and Car Imports by Country and Electric Car Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 3, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 3, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 3, 2022
