Petroleum is the top import into 12 states, while some states’ unique imports and exports include catgut, coin games and brewing dregs.
Most Americans have become painfully aware of the supply chain in the past two years. Trade is big business, and the U.S. is the largest economy in the world. In just one month, March 2022, U.S. exports were worth $241.7 billion, and imports were worth $351.5 billion.
California’s economy alone is the 10th largest in the world, and Texas’ economy is the size of Brazil’s.
Petroleum is the top import into 12 states, making it the most common leading import, according to Ondeck, a global online small business lending company, which researched official U.S. international trade data to find the top import and export products for each state.
Aircraft are the most common top export, leading in 14 states, and New York imports $21.9 billion worth of precious metals each year, the biggest import for any state. Texas has the biggest export commodity of any state, shipping $43.5 billion of fuel.
To find these top imports and exports, along with each state’s most unique imports and exports, Ondeck crunched the numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, ranking the imports and exports based on monetary value, and selecting the top entry for each state. The data was collected in January 2022.
Alabama
Top import: PetroleumTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Alloy steelTop unique export: Polycarbonates
Alabama is home to three major auto manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Hyundai.
Alaska
Top import: PetroleumTop export: ZincTop unique import: Telecommunications instrumentsTop unique export: Zinc
Arizona
Top import: AircraftTop export: AircraftTop unique import: TomatoesTop unique export: Semiconductors
Arkansas
Top import: AircraftTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Military projectilesTop unique export: Rice
California
Top import: VehiclesTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Data monitorsTop unique export: Vehicles
Colorado
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Cow meatTop unique import: Hearing aidsTop unique export: Machine insulation
Connecticut
Top import: SilverTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Sulfa drugsTop unique export: Propellors and rotors
Delaware
Top import: MedicineTop export: MedicineTop unique import: PineapplesTop unique export: Electric motors
Florida
Top import: Nucleic acidsTop export: AircraftTop unique import: SalmonTop unique export: Fertilizers
Georgia
Top import: VehiclesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: MedicineTop unique export: Clay
Georgia is home to the only Kia manufacturing plant in the U.S.
Hawaii
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Ferrous scrapTop unique import: TunaTop unique export: Shrimp
Idaho
Top import: Data processing partsTop export: SemiconductorsTop unique import: ResistorsTop unique export: Silver
Illinois
Top import: TelephonesTop export: MedicineTop unique import: TractorsTop unique export: Dump trucks
Indiana
Top import: MedicineTop export: MedicineTop unique import: HormonesTop unique export: Trailers
Iowa
Top import: Road tractorsTop export: CornTop unique import: GelatinTop unique export: Molybdenum ores
Kansas
Top import: Airplane partsTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Radio apparatusTop unique export: Great millet
Kentucky
Top import: Vaccines and antibodiesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Vaccines and antibodiesTop unique export: Steering wheels
Louisiana
Top import: PetroleumTop export: SoybeansTop unique import: Palm oilTop unique export: Chemical compounds
Maine
Top import: Light oilsTop export: LobsterTop unique import: LobsterTop unique export: Lobster
Maryland
Top import: VehiclesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: TinTop unique export: Nucleic acids
Massachusetts
Top import: Light oilsTop export: GoldTop unique import: LobsterTop unique export: Pearls
Michigan
Top import: VehiclesTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Electrical lightingTop unique export: Rear-view mirrors
Minnesota
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Light oilsTop unique import: PacemakersTop unique export: Iron ore
Mississippi
Top import: PetroleumTop export: PetroleumTop unique import: FansTop unique export: Tools
Missouri
Top import: PetroleumTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Electric motorsTop unique export: Chemical compounds
Montana
Top import: PetroleumTop export: CoalTop unique import: CigarettesTop unique export: Coal
Nebraska
Top import: Nucleic acidsTop export: Cow meatTop unique import: Chemical compoundsTop unique export: Syringes
Nevada
Top import: Electrical processorsTop export: GoldTop unique import: BatteriesTop unique export: Coin games
New Hampshire
Top import: Airplane partsTop export: AircraftTop unique import: RubberTop unique export: Radio parts
New Jersey
Top import: MedicineTop export: PalladiumTop unique import: CheeseTop unique export: Platinum
New Mexico
Top import: Data processing partsTop export: Data processing partsTop unique import: TransmittersTop unique export: Petroleum
New York
Top import: Precious metalTop export: DiamondsTop unique import: DiamondsTop unique export: Sculptures
North Carolina
Top import: Vaccines and antibodiesTop export: Vaccines and antibodiesTop unique import: HormonesTop unique export: Medicine
North Dakota
Top import: PlatinumTop export: Light oilsTop unique import: RapeseedTop unique export: Rapeseed
Rapeseed is used to produce canola oil.
Ohio
Top import: MedicineTop export: AircraftTop unique import: MedicineTop unique export: Sanitary towels
Oklahoma
Top import: PetroleumTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Metal residueTop unique export: Vehicles
Oregon
Top import: Semiconductor machinesTop export: Electrical processorsTop unique import: Alloy steelTop unique export: Potassium chloride
Pennsylvania
Top import: MedicineTop export: MedicineTop unique import: VaccinesTop unique export: Diesel trains
Rhode Island
Top import: VehiclesTop export: Precious metalTop unique import: VehiclesTop unique export: Vaccines and antibodies
South Carolina
Top import: UraniumTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Tractor cabsTop unique export: Vehicles
Tico is a tractor cab company in Ridgeland, S.C.
Tico Tractors
South Dakota
Top import: Cow meatTop export: Brewing dregsTop unique import: Cow meatTop unique export: Pig meat
Brewing dregs are used to make bread, granola bars, and even dog treats. They can also be used as compost and possibly even fish food and as a way to treat wastewater, according to Modern Farmer.
Tennessee
Top import: MedicineTop export: Surgical instrumentsTop unique import: Data-processing machinesTop unique export: Catgut suture
Texas
Top import: PetroleumTop export: PetroleumTop unique import: Human bloodTop unique export: Acyclic ethers
Utah
Top import: GoldTop export: GoldTop unique import: Cutting machinesTop unique export: Safety airbags
Vermont
Top import: Electrical energyTop export: Electronic circuitsTop unique import: ChocolateTop unique export: Machine parts
Virginia
Top import: Printer partsTop export: CoalTop unique import: WatersTop unique export: Nonwovens
Washington
Top import: VehiclesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Metal furnitureTop unique export: Soybean flours
West Virginia
Top import: Airplane partsTop export: CoalTop unique import: Cutting machinesTop unique export: Polyethers
Wisconsin
Top import: VaccinesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Aircraft enginesTop unique export: Marine vehicle engines
Wyoming
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Disodium carbonateTop unique import: Ammonium nitrateTop unique export: Rare gases
You can see the methodology for this study, and related visualizations, at Ondeck.com.
