The overall value for all US purchases of imported cars in 2021 showed a -17.5% decline since 2017 but a 1.6% uptick from 2020 to 2021.
Where Does the United States Spend Most On Imported Cars?
Among suppliers in the latest reporting period, American importers spent the most on cars originating from Japan (22.5% of US spending on imported cars), Mexico (20%), Canada (17.2%), South Korea (12%) and Germany (10.3%).
Applying a continental lens, 37.1% of total US spending on imported cars in 2021 went to its neighboring North American trading partners Mexico and Canada, just ahead of suppliers in Asia at 37%).
The United States bought 25.3% worth of cars imported during 2021 from Europe. Germany accounted for about one half of that percentage, while European Union satisfied 21.7% of US demand for imported cars.
Smaller continental percentages for US imports of cars belong to Africa (0.5%), Latin America (0.01%) excluding Mexico, and Oceania (0.002%) Australia and New Zealand only.
Countries Exporting Cars to America
America’s top 15 suppliers of imported cars in 2021 attracted 98.6% of US car purchases from foreign markets, with about three-fifths (59.7%) of the overall value coming from Japan, Mexico and Canada.
- Japan: US$33.4 billion (22.5% of total US imported cars)
- Mexico: $29.6 billion (20%)
- Canada: $25.5 billion (17.2%)
- South Korea: $17.8 billion (12%)
- Germany: $15.3 billion (10.3%)
- United Kingdom: $6.9 billion (4.7%)
- Slovakia: $3.6 billion (2.5%)
- Italy: $3.05 billion (2.1%)
- Sweden: $3 billion (2%)
- China: $2.1 billion (1.4%)
- Austria: $1.7 billion (1.2%)
- Belgium: $1.2 billion (0.8%)
- Hungary: $1.1 billion (0.7%)
- Finland: $1 billion (0.7%)
- South Africa: $782.4 million (0.5%)
The fastest growers among these top automotive suppliers from 2020 to 2021 were Finland (up 184.2%), South Africa (up 44.2%), Austria (up 34.3%), mainland China (up 26%) then Germany (up 22.1%). Note that Germany is famous for well-established car brands including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and Porsche.
Year-over-year decliners among the listed top US car suppliers were Canada (down -13.8%), Italy (down -7%), Slovakia (down -6.7%) and Mexico (down -1%).
United States International Trade Deficits for Cars by Country
America is a major producer and seller of cars on international markets. In 2021, the United States shipped $54.7 billion worth of cars to its trade partners. Yet the reality is that American revenues from its exported cars equal over a third (36.9%) of the $148.1 billion that the US spent importing cars from foreign suppliers.
The US product category trade deficit specific to cars was -$93.5 billion for 2021. That amount of red ink reflects a -25.8% decrease from America’s -$126 billion shortfall from the international trade of cars during 2017. There was a -6.3% reduction in the US trade deficit for cars from 2020 to 2021.
Below you will find the 15 countries that caused America’s highest negative subtotal (-$114.1 billion) from buying and selling cars on global markets in 2021.
- Japan: -US$32.6 billion (product deficit down -18.7% since 2017)
- Mexico: -$26.8 billion (down -2%)
- South Korea: -$14.7 billion (up 1.1%)
- Canada: -$11.6 billion (down -59.6%)
- Germany: -$7.6 billion (down -48.6%)
- United Kingdom: -$6 billion (down -12.8%)
- Slovakia: -$3.6 billion (up 82.2%)
- Italy: -$2.93 billion (down -39.9%)
- Sweden: -$2.89 billion (up 41.7%)
- Austria: -$1.7 billion (up 456.6%)
- Hungary: -$1 billion (down -15.1%)
- Finland: -$948.5 million (down -15.9%)
- South Africa: -$674.6 million (down -31.7%)
- Turkey: -$455 million (down -46.6%)
- India: -$430.2 million (up 1,083%)
On a percentage basis, America’s deficits for cars widened compared to 2017 with 5 of its suppliers: India (up 1,083%), Austria (up 456.6%), Slovakia (up 82.2%), Sweden (up 41.7%) and South Korea (up 1.1%).
The US was able to trim the size of its negative trade balances at the greatest percentage basis with Canada (down -59.6%), Germany (down -48.6%), Turkey (down -46.6%), Italy (down -39.9%) and South Africa (down -31.7%).
United States International Trade Surpluses for Cars by Country
The United States did generate surpluses from the global car trade with over 180 other countries, islands or territories. In general, many of these represent relatively small markets.
From the 15 trade partners below, America captured a subtotal $15.9 billion in positive cashflow during 2021.
- China: US$4.5 billion (product surplus down -47.4% since 2017)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.8 billion (up 7.3%)
- Belgium: $1.51 billion (up 4,762%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1.46 billion (down -10.3%)
- Australia: $1.3 billion (down -20.1%)
- Nigeria: $921.3 million (up 162.5%)
- Ukraine: $866.7 million (up 545.5%)
- Dominican Republic: $658.8 million (up 106.7%)
- Kuwait: $545.7 million (up 9.6%)
- Taiwan: $526.1 million (up 127.9%)
- Georgia: $401.1 million (up 165.6%)
- Oman: $390.8 million (up 58.7%)
- Lithuania: $374.2 million (up 105.4%)
- Netherlands: $329.1 million (reversing a -$322 million deficit in 2017)
- Russia: $300.2 million (up 203.7%)
The United States grew its individual trade surpluses at the fastest pace since 2017 at the expense of Belgium (up 4,762%), Ukraine (up 545.5%), Russia (up 203.7%), Georgia (up 165.6%), Nigeria (up 162.5%), Taiwan (up 127.9%), Dominican Republic (up 106.7%) and Lithuania (up 105.4%).
In contrast, American surpluses from buying and selling cars reduces over the 5-year period trading with: mainland China (down -47.4%), Australia (down -20.1%), Saudi Arabia (down -10.3%).
In addition, the US transitioned from a -$322 million trade deficit in 2017 to generating a $329.1 million surplus doing business with the Netherlands during 2021.
Searchable List of US Imported Cars Suppliers
The table below shows the dollar amount for cars sold to the US in 2021 by country. Also shown is the percentage value change for each supplier since 2020.
You can change presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of a column.
| Rank | Supplier | Imported Cars (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Japan | $33,390,641,000 | +1.2% |
| 2. | Mexico | $29,582,371,000 | -1% |
| 3. | Canada | $25,452,100,000 | -14% |
| 4. | South Korea | $17,763,222,000 | +7.3% |
| 5. | Germany | $15,287,825,000 | +22.1% |
| 6. | United Kingdom | $6,897,003,000 | +9.1% |
| 7. | Slovakia | $3,635,813,000 | -6.7% |
| 8. | Italy | $3,046,322,000 | -7% |
| 9. | Sweden | $2,996,125,000 | +22% |
| 10. | China | $2,136,518,000 | +26% |
| 11. | Austria | $1,732,586,000 | +34.3% |
| 12. | Belgium | $1,237,828,000 | +7.5% |
| 13. | Hungary | $1,073,974,000 | +2.7% |
| 14. | Finland | $1,014,238,000 | +184.2% |
| 15. | South Africa | $782,443,000 | +44.2% |
| 16. | Turkey | $496,244,000 | +22.9% |
| 17. | India | $453,648,000 | -44.5% |
| 18. | Netherlands | $320,081,000 | +6.9% |
| 19. | Thailand | $226,226,000 | +4.2% |
| 20. | Vietnam | $211,441,000 | +161.4% |
| 21. | Taiwan | $149,750,000 | +62.6% |
| 22. | France | $118,134,000 | +5.8% |
| 23. | Spain | $117,077,000 | -34.3% |
| 24. | Brazil | $6,803,000 | +56.4% |
| 25. | Denmark | $4,941,000 | +54% |
| 26. | Australia | $3,223,000 | +105.5% |
| 27. | Switzerland | $2,632,000 | +363.4% |
| 28. | Ukraine | $1,351,000 | -16% |
| 29. | Czech Republic | $736,000 | -64% |
| 30. | Colombia | $411,000 | +9.3% |
| 31. | United Arab Emirates | $400,000 | +1150% |
| 32. | Russia | $290,000 | -19% |
| 33. | Georgia | $222,000 | +1486% |
| 34. | Poland | $213,000 | -34.3% |
| 35. | Costa Rica | $177,000 | -25.6% |
| 36. | Venezuela | $168,000 | +81% |
| 37. | Israel | $141,000 | -56.3% |
| 38. | Latvia | $128,000 | +288% |
| 39. | New Zealand | $114,000 | -83% |
| 40. | Gibraltar | $108,000 | +3500% |
| 41. | Saudi Arabia | $99,000 | +1550% |
| 42. | Lebanon | $97,000 | +49.2% |
| 43. | Ecuador | $95,000 | 0% |
| 44. | Panama | $95,000 | 0% |
| 45 | Greece | $93,000 | +17.7% |
| 46 | Oman | $67,000 | +219% |
| 47 | Norway | $64,000 | 0% |
| 48 | Serbia | $59,000 | -99% |
| 49 | Argentina | $52,000 | +333.3% |
| 50 | Ireland | $44,000 | -36.2% |
| 51 | Yemen | $42,000 | 0% |
| 52 | Guatemala | $41,000 | +21% |
| 53 | Peru | $39,000 | +225% |
| 54 | Bulgaria | $36,000 | -71.9% |
| 55 | Honduras | $31,000 | 0% |
| 56 | Tanzania | $31,000 | 0% |
| 57 | Jamaica | $29,000 | +480% |
| 58 | Albania | $28,000 | -58.8% |
| 59 | Kuwait | $25,000 | -34% |
| 60 | Moldova | $25,000 | +400% |
| 61 | Chile | $21,000 | 0% |
| 62 | Dominican Republic | $21,000 | 0% |
| 63 | Lithuania | $20,000 | +150% |
| 64 | Ethiopia | $19,000 | 0% |
| 65 | Jordan | $19,000 | -42.4% |
| 66 | Portugal | $17,000 | -91% |
| 67 | Ghana | $15,000 | 0% |
| 68 | Benin | $14,000 | 0% |
| 69 | Armenia | $13,000 | 0% |
| 70 | Liberia | $13,000 | 0% |
| 71 | Aruba | $13,000 | 0% |
| 72 | El Salvador | $11,000 | -15% |
| 73 | Qatar | $10,000 | -93% |
| 74 | Uruguay | $10,000 | 0% |
| 75 | Croatia | $9,000 | 0% |
| 76 | Curaçao | $9,000 | -18.2% |
| 77 | Malaysia | $7,000 | 0% |
| 78 | Estonia | $6,000 | 0% |
| 79 | Indonesia | $6,000 | -97% |
| 80 | Luxembourg | $3,000 | 0% |
| 81 | Egypt | $3,000 | -83% |
| 82 | Philippines | $2,000 | 0% |
An entry of 0% in the far-right column means that 2020 data was unavailable.
See also United States Top 10 Imports, US Exported & Imported Cars by State, America’s Top Trading Partners, Car Imports by Country and Top Cars Exporters by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 12, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Wikipedia, Car. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Wikipedia, List of car brands. Accessed on April 12, 2022
