The hub for America’s automotive industry thanks to three major automobile businesses with headquarters within principal city Detroit’s metropolitan area, Michigan shipped US$58.3 billion worth of exported products around the world in 2025.

That dollar amount results from a -7.1% decrease from $62.7 billion five years back in 2020.

Year over year, the total value of Michiganian exports fell -7% compared to $62.6 billion during 2024.

Michigan ranked tenth among America’s biggest exporters by state. It trails leaders including Texas, California, New York state, Louisiana, Illinois and Florida.

Michigan’s exported products represent 10.1% of the state’s total economic output or nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2025 ($578 billion).

The most valuable products shipped from Michigan continue to be cars, trucks and automotive parts or accessories..

Given Michigan’s population of 10.13 million people during 2025, its total US$58.3 billion in 2025 exports translates to roughly $5,750 for every resident in the Great Lakes and Midwestern state. That dollar metric lags the average $6,100 per capita one year earlier during 2024.

Michigan’s unemployment rate was 5% at December 31, 2025, down from 5.2% one year earlier per YCharts.

Michigan’s Top 10 Exports

The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Michigan’s global shipments during 2025. 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 trucks (piston engine): US$3.3 billion (5.7% of Michigan’s total exports)
2. Motor vehicle gear boxes: $2.6 billion (4.5%)
3. Large automobiles (piston engine): $2.2 billion (3.8%)
4. Miscellaneous vehicle body parts, accessories: $2 billion (3.4%)
5. Medium-sized automobiles (piston engine): $1.6 billion (2.8%)
6. Lithium ion batteries: $1.5 billion (2.5%)
7. Civilian aircraft, full or engines or other parts: $1.43 billion (2.4%)
8. Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $1.41 billion (2.4%)
9. Natural gas (gaseous): $1.2 billion (2.1%)
10. Vehicle rear-view mirrors: $1 billion (1.8%)

Michigan’s top 10 export product categories accounted for nearly one-third (31.5%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Among Michigan’s above major exports, the gainers was natural gas in gaseous state (up 62.5% from 2024), medium-sized automobiles powered by piston engine (up 13.3%), then miscellaneous automotive parts or accessories (up 10.5%).

There were 3 double-digit declines among Michigan’s top 10 export products year over year. These were small trucks powered by piston engine (down -33% from 2024), large automobiles powered by piston engine (down -29.4%) then vehicle body parts or accessories (down -12.2%).

More Key Facts about Michigan’s International Trade

Overall, Michigan incurred a -US$109 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2025. That dollar amount reflects a -1.3% reduction from -$110.4 billion in red ink in 2024.

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.

Goods imported into Michigan totaled $167.2 billion for 2025, down -3.3% from $173 billion during 2024.

Below are Michigan’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2025.

1. Small automobiles (piston engine): US$19 billion (11.4% of Michigan’s total imports)
2. Small trucks (piston engine): $13.7 billion (8.2%)
3. Motor vehicles with electric motor only: $7.3 billion (4.4%)
4. Medium-sized automobiles (piston engine): $6.3 billion (3.8%)
5. Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $5.7 billion (3.4%)
6. Insulated wiring sets: $5.3 billion (3.2%)
7. Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $4.8 billion (2.9%)
8. Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines: $4.7 billion (2.8%)
9. Large automobiles (piston engine): $4.6 billion (2.8%)
10. Medium-sized trucks (diesel): $4.5 billion (2.7%)

Michigan has billion-dollar negative net exports notably from its international trade of smaller automobiles, smaller trucks and motor vehicles powered by electric engine only. This shows the strong impact of foreign-supplied electric vehicles on Michigan’s global balance sheet.

Michigan’s Major Trading Partners

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchase over four-fifths (81%) worth of the total value of products exported from Michigan during 2025.

1. Canada: US$21.2 billion (36.3% of Michigan’s total exports)
2. Mexico: $16.6 billion (28.6%)
3. Germany: $1.8 billion (3.2%)
4. mainland China: $1.5 billion (2.7%)
5. Japan: $1.4 billion (2.4%)
6. Thailand: $1.1 billion (1.8%)
7. Brazil: $1 billion (1.7%)
8. South Korea: $954.6 million (1.6%)
9. Australia: $809 million (1.4%)
10. United Kingdom: $785.7 million (1.3%)

Michigan’s North American trade partners, Canada and Mexico, generated almost two-thirds (64.9%) of the overall value of exported goods from the state.

In contrast, Michigan sold 8.5% worth of its exports to leading importers in Asia (mainland China, Japan, Thailand and South Korea) during 2025.

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.

 

Michigan’s capital city is Lansing, nicknamed L-Town and the Heart of Michigan.

See also America’s Top 20 Export States, United States Top 10 Exports and Top United States Trade Balances

Research Sources:
FlagPictures.org, Flags of US States. Accessed on February 25, 2026

Forbes 2020 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on February 25, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 25, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 25, 2026

United States Census Bureau, Foreign Trade (State by 6-Digit HS Code). Accessed on February 25, 2026

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Michigan. Accessed on February 25, 2026

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on February 25, 2026

Wikipedia, List of Companies of Michigan. Accessed on February 25, 2026

Wikipedia, Michigan. Accessed on February 25, 2026

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on February 25, 2026

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on February 25, 2026