The Top Imports and Exports for Every U.S. State

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.

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