The International Trade Blog 
On: February 28, 2024 | By:
Kari Crane | 4 min. read
As the world’s largest trading nation, with $5.1 trillion in trade in 2023, the United States is a cornerstone of the global economy. Currently, the U.S. has trade relations with more than 200 countries, territories and regional associations around the globe. In this article, we’ll share the top U.S. exports for 2023 based on the most recent numbers available, the regions that purchase the most U.S. exports, and explain how exporters can pursue exporting to these markets.
Top 5 U.S. Exports
As the second-largest exporter in the world—outranked only by China—total U.S. exports for 2023 climbed to $3.1 trillion, a new record, up $35.0 billion from 2022, according to Census Bureau data. According to data through December 2023, the following are the United States’ top exports by value:
- Oil
- Civilian Aircraft Parts
- Gasoline and Other Fuels
- Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Other Petroleum Gases
- Passenger Vehicles
Following is a closer look at each of these U.S. exports.
1. Oil: $117 billion
Oil exports held steady, growing by just .11% from $117.03 billion in 2022 to $117.16 billion in 2023, though the share of total U.S exports increased from 5.7% to 5.8%. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in December were:
- The Netherlands
- South Korea
- Canada
2. Civilian Aircraft Parts: $113 billion
Compared to last year, civilian aircraft parts exports are up 20.82%, and they make up 5.6% of total U.S. exports. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in December were:
- France
- Germany
- Brazil
3. Gasoline and Other Fuels: $113 billion
Compared to last year, gasoline and other fuel exports are down 16.64%, and they make up 5.6% of total U.S. exports. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in December were:
- Mexico
- Canada
- The Netherlands
4. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Other Petroleum Gases: $68 billion
Compared to last year, liquified natural gas (LNG) and other petroleum gas exports decreased 29.80% and made up 3.3% of total U.S. exports. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in December were:
- Japan
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
5. Passenger Vehicles: $63 billion
Compared to last year, passenger vehicle exports increased 8.96% and made up 3.1% of total U.S. exports. The main export destinations for these exports from the U.S. in December were:
- Canada
- Germany
- United Arab Emirates
Additionally, some of the other most-exported products from the U.S. include: plasma, vaccines and blood; motor vehicle parts; computer chips; cell phones and related equipment; medical instruments; medicines in individual doses; computers; soybeans; and gold.
Regions America Exports to Most
The top purchasers of U.S. goods exports in 2023 were:
- Mexico: 16% of total exports, $799 billion
- Canada: 15% of total exports, $774 billion
- China: 11% of total exports, $575 billion
- Germany: 4.6% of total exports, $236 billion
- Japan: 4.4% of total exports, $224 billion
These are the same five countries that were on this list in 2022.
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About the Author: Kari Crane
Kari Crane is the editor of Passages: The International Trade Blog. Kari joined Shipping Solutions after working as an editor, writer and designer at a major market newspaper in Texas. Kari has spent her career finding different ways to tell stories and make complex topics easy-to-understand, so she loves helping importers and exporters understand how to navigate the complex world of international trade.
