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In 2023, the United States shipped $3.053 trillion worth of goods and services around the world. This massive flow of trade accounts for 11% of the nation’s economy and supports millions of high-paying jobs.
Where exactly do all these American products and services go?
Understanding trade flows matters because they shape everything from factory jobs in Ohio to farm incomes in Iowa. They influence foreign policy decisions and determine which countries have the strongest economic ties to the United States.
Most importantly, they show how American businesses compete and succeed in an increasingly connected world.
What America Sells to the World
The modern American export portfolio showcases the country’s economic strengths across multiple sectors. In 2023, merchandise exports reached $2.01 trillion, while services added another $1 trillion, highlighting America’s evolution toward a knowledge-based economy.
Energy Superpower
The biggest single category of American exports might surprise many people: energy. Mineral fuels including oil accounted for $320.1 billion—15.5% of all goods exports. This includes crude oil ($118.5 billion), processed petroleum oils ($117.5 billion), and petroleum gases ($62.2 billion).
This transformation into a global energy supplier represents one of the most dramatic economic shifts of the past decade. The shale revolution turned America from an energy importer into an energy exporter, fundamentally changing trade relationships worldwide.
High-Tech Manufacturing
Technology and advanced manufacturing form the backbone of American industrial exports. Machinery including computers was the second-largest category at $252.4 billion (12.2% of total exports). This was also the fastest-growing major export category, with computer sales showing remarkable year-over-year increases.
Electrical machinery and equipment, including semiconductors and integrated circuits, accounted for another $213.9 billion (10.4%). These exports place American technology at the heart of global supply chains, from smartphones to automotive systems.
Traditional Manufacturing Powerhouses
Despite America’s shift toward services, traditional manufacturing remains strong. Vehicles ($143.8 billion) and aircraft ($134.2 billion) represent formidable export categories.
The aerospace sector stands out as an area of significant competitive advantage, generating a trade surplus of $98.3 billion. Boeing and other American aircraft manufacturers dominate global markets for commercial aviation.
Life Sciences and Innovation
America’s strength in research and development shows up clearly in export data. Optical, technical, and medical apparatus ($106.3 billion) and pharmaceuticals ($94.4 billion) reflect the dominance of companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Merck.
The Services Economy
America’s services exports reached $1.003 trillion in 2023, representing the output of the knowledge economy. Travel services ($190 billion) cover tourism, international student tuition, and medical visits.
Financial services ($175 billion) underscore America’s central role in global finance. Intellectual property licensing ($134 billion) captures the value of American innovation in software, entertainment, and patents.
The largest services category, business services ($250 billion), encompasses consulting, legal work, research and development, and engineering—much of it delivered digitally across borders.
The strength of American exports lies in bundling goods with services. A Boeing aircraft sale includes maintenance contracts, pilot training, and financing arrangements. Medical scanner exports come with software, diagnostic analysis, and ongoing research support. This integrated approach creates durable, high-value relationships that competitors struggle to replicate.
The Economic Impact at Home
International trade directly supports millions of high-paying American jobs. Export activity accounted for 11.01% of U.S. GDP in 2023, representing over $3 trillion in annual economic activity. This export sector alone is larger than most national economies worldwide.
An estimated 5.1 million of the 13.0 million manufacturing jobs in the United States are supported by exports. These aren’t just any jobs—they’re high-quality, high-paying positions.
The average payroll per worker at an exporting business was $80,536 in 2023, nearly 50% higher than the $54,474 average for non-exporting firms. This wage premium exists because competing globally requires higher productivity, innovation, and efficiency.
Companies that export face competition from the world’s best, not just domestic rivals. This intense competition drives investment in superior technology, advanced research, and skilled workers. Because their workers generate more value, these firms can afford higher wages.
Small and medium-sized enterprises represent 97.5% of all U.S. exporting companies. While large corporations like Apple, Boeing, and ExxonMobil grab headlines, smaller firms form the backbone of America’s export economy.
Government agencies like the Export-Import Bank supported an estimated 40,000 U.S. jobs in fiscal year 2023 by helping smaller firms compete globally.
Understanding Trade Balances
The total U.S. trade deficit in goods and services was $773.4 billion in 2023, a significant decrease from $951.2 billion in 2022. This overall figure results from opposing trends: a large deficit in goods trade ($1.06 trillion) and a substantial surplus in services trade ($288.2 billion).
The largest bilateral deficits are typically with major global manufacturing hubs. In 2023, the most significant trade deficits were with China ($279.4 billion), the European Union as a bloc ($208.2 billion), and Mexico ($152.4 billion).
However, with many top export partners, the United States runs healthy trade surpluses. In 2023, the U.S. recorded its largest surpluses with the Netherlands ($43.7 billion), Hong Kong ($23.6 billion), Australia ($17.7 billion), and the United Kingdom ($9.8 billion).
The enormous surplus with the Netherlands illustrates how country-specific balances can reveal strategic patterns. U.S. exports to the Netherlands are dominated by crude oil and liquefied natural gas. The Netherlands hosts the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port and a critical energy distribution hub.
American energy arrives in Rotterdam and then flows across the continent. The massive surplus with the Netherlands actually represents America’s success in becoming a key energy supplier to the entire European Union.
America’s Top 10 Export Markets
In 2023, just ten countries accounted for over two-thirds of all goods exported from the United States. These relationships represent the core of America’s global economic engagement.
| Rank | Country | 2023 Export Value (Goods) | Share of Total Exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | $352.0 Billion | 17.4% |
| 2 | Mexico | $323.0 Billion | 16.0% |
| 3 | China | $147.8 Billion | 7.3% |
| 4 | Netherlands | $82.0 Billion | 4.1% |
| 5 | Germany | $77.0 Billion | 3.8% |
| 6 | Japan | $76.0 Billion | 3.8% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | $74.0 Billion | 3.7% |
| 8 | South Korea | $64.0 Billion | 3.2% |
| 9 | Brazil | $45.0 Billion | 2.2% |
| 10 | France | $44.0 Billion | 2.2% |
Canada: The Indispensable Partner
With $352 billion in U.S. goods exports in 2023, Canada stands as America’s largest export market, purchasing 17.4% of all U.S. exports. Total two-way trade in goods and services reached $773 billion, making this one of the world’s most integrated economic relationships.
Trade flows between the U.S. and Canada reflect deeply intertwined supply chains rather than simple exchanges of finished products. The leading export category is vehicles and parts, reflecting a continental automotive industry where components and finished vehicles cross the border multiple times during manufacturing.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ensures largely tariff-free trade and provides stable rules of origin for North American products. Major U.S. exports include machinery and mechanical appliances that supply Canada’s industrial and natural resource sectors, energy products like refined petroleum, and agricultural products worth over $30 billion, including bakery items, cereals, fresh vegetables, and ethanol.
In services, the U.S. enjoys a significant trade surplus with Canada of $31.7 billion in 2023, led by travel and professional services. Despite being the top U.S. export market, the U.S. ran a goods trade deficit with Canada of $67.9 billion in 2023, largely due to substantial imports of Canadian crude oil and raw materials.
Mexico: The Manufacturing Hub
Mexico purchased $323 billion in U.S. goods in 2023, accounting for 16.0% of America’s total exports. In a landmark shift, Mexico surpassed China in 2023 to become America’s largest overall trading partner when combining imports and exports, with total bilateral trade nearing $798 billion.
The export profile to Mexico highlights its role as a major manufacturing hub relying on U.S. inputs. Top export categories include petroleum and coal products valued at over $40 billion and motor vehicle parts exceeding $21 billion to supply Mexico’s vast automotive assembly plants.
The U.S. sends billions of dollars’ worth of semiconductors and electronic components, critical inputs for Mexico’s burgeoning electronics and automotive industries. Mexico is also a vital market for American agriculture, with U.S. exports of corn, pork, dairy, and soybeans reaching $28.6 billion in 2023.
Trade with Mexico is governed by the USMCA and characterized by highly integrated supply chains. The trend of “nearshoring”—companies moving manufacturing closer to the U.S. to create more resilient supply chains—has significantly amplified Mexico’s importance as an economic partner.
This dynamic contributes to the large U.S. goods trade deficit with Mexico, which reached $152.4 billion in 2023, as the U.S. imports finished vehicles, electronics, and produce from Mexico.
China: The Complex Market
Despite significant geopolitical friction and ongoing trade disputes, China remains the third-largest single-country market for U.S. exports. American businesses sold $147.8 billion worth of goods to China in 2023, making it a critical, if complex, destination.
U.S. exports to China are dominated by commodities and high technology. Agricultural products, particularly soybeans and grains, are the largest export category, with sales valued at over $25 billion. China’s immense demand for animal feed and focus on food security make it an indispensable, albeit politically sensitive, customer for American farmers.
Crude petroleum and petroleum gas are also major exports, though their value fluctuates with global energy prices and political climate. Semiconductors and related manufacturing equipment represent another key trade area, but this sector sits at the center of strategic competition, with the U.S. implementing strict export controls to limit China’s access to advanced chip technologies.
In services, the U.S. maintains a trade surplus with China, driven by royalties from intellectual property, business consulting, and international student tuition in non-pandemic years.
The U.S.-China trade relationship is arguably the world’s most complex, defined by deep economic codependence and intensifying strategic rivalry. U.S. Section 301 tariffs apply to hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports, and China has enacted retaliatory tariffs on American goods. This friction stems from the massive bilateral trade deficit, the largest the U.S. has with any country at $279.4 billion in 2023.
Netherlands: Europe’s Gateway
The Netherlands has surged to become the fourth-largest market for U.S. exports and the most important destination within the European Union. It purchased $82 billion in American goods in 2023, reflecting its strategic role in global logistics.
The trade relationship is overwhelmingly defined by America’s role as an energy superpower. Mineral fuels, especially crude petroleum and liquefied natural gas, dominate U.S. exports to the Netherlands. Crude oil exports alone were valued at $14 billion in 2023.
The Netherlands serves as the primary entry point for U.S. energy flowing into the wider European market, with the Port of Rotterdam acting as a critical distribution hub. Other significant exports include high-value manufactured goods like medical instruments and pharmaceuticals, as well as specialized equipment for semiconductor manufacturing.
This function as a “transshipment” hub explains why the United States records its largest bilateral trade surplus with the Netherlands at $43.7 billion in 2023. This figure represents not just final consumption by Dutch markets but the immense value of U.S. goods, particularly energy, passing through to the rest of Europe.
Germany: Industrial Powerhouse
As Europe’s largest economy, Germany is a top-tier market for American industrial and high-tech products, importing $77 billion in U.S. goods in 2023. The trade relationship represents an exchange between two of the world’s most advanced manufacturing economies.
Machinery and electrical equipment leads U.S. exports to Germany at $22 billion, providing essential inputs for Germany’s powerful manufacturing sector. Vehicles and parts represent significant two-way trade, with the U.S. exporting approximately $9 billion worth of cars and parts into Germany’s competitive automotive market.
The U.S. life sciences industry is a major player, exporting pharmaceuticals ($12 billion) and optical and medical instruments ($10 billion) to Germany. Aircraft and parts remain a key export, highlighting deep integration of the transatlantic aerospace industry.
The relationship is marked by a substantial trade imbalance. The United States runs a goods trade deficit with Germany of $83 billion in 2023, driven by strong American demand for high-quality German products, particularly luxury automobiles, industrial machinery, and pharmaceuticals.
Japan: The High-Tech Ally
Japan is a crucial and stable market for U.S. exports, purchasing $76 billion in American goods in 2023. The trade relationship forms a cornerstone of U.S. economic and security policy in Asia.
U.S. exports to Japan meet the needs of its advanced, energy-importing economy. The largest single export category is petroleum gases (LNG), valued at over $8.2 billion, critical for Japan’s energy security.
Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are major exports, including medication mixes ($3.3 billion) and advanced electro-medical equipment like X-ray machines ($2.8 billion). Other key exports include industrial machinery such as gas turbines and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, as well as agricultural products like corn and soybeans vital to Japan’s food supply.
The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, which entered into force on January 1, 2020, provides preferential tariff access for many U.S. products, with particular focus on expanding market access for American agriculture, including beef, pork, wheat, and wine.
Despite this strong export relationship, the U.S. maintains a significant goods trade deficit with Japan of $71.2 billion in 2023, driven primarily by American imports of Japanese automobiles and electronics.
United Kingdom: The Services Powerhouse
The United Kingdom purchased $74 billion in American goods in 2023. While goods trade is substantial, the economic relationship truly stands out in the services sector, where the U.S. enjoys a massive trade surplus.
Top U.S. goods exports to the UK mirror European trends. Mineral fuels, particularly crude oil and natural gas, are leading exports, reflecting the UK’s position as a major destination for American energy. Precious metals like gold are also a top export, reflecting London’s central role in global financial and commodities trading.
The defining feature of the U.S.-UK economic partnership is services. The U.S. runs a large services trade surplus with the UK, driven by deep integration in financial services, business and management consulting, and intellectual property services.
The U.S. maintained a goods trade surplus with the UK of $9.8 billion in 2023, a figure that expands considerably when including the substantial services surplus.
Since Brexit, the two nations have been navigating a new trade framework. While a comprehensive free trade agreement hasn’t been signed, they have reached limited deals, such as the “Economic Prosperity Deal” of 2025, to roll back some tariffs and enhance market access.
South Korea: The KORUS Partner
South Korea is a major economic and security partner, purchasing $64 billion in American goods in 2023. The relationship is anchored by a strong alliance and the comprehensive U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).
U.S. exports to South Korea are heavily weighted toward industrial inputs and energy. The largest export category is crude petroleum, valued at over $12 billion, essential for powering South Korea’s advanced industrial economy.
Machinery and mechanical appliances follow, including industrial machinery and specialized equipment for South Korea’s world-leading semiconductor industry. The U.S. is the number one supplier of agricultural products to South Korea, with exports totaling $8.8 billion in 2023, led by beef, pork, and fresh fruit.
The KORUS agreement, in effect since 2012, has been instrumental in deepening economic ties by eliminating most tariffs and establishing a stable framework for trade and investment. The agreement has positioned South Korea as a key U.S. partner in promoting high-standard trade rules throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The U.S. runs a goods trade deficit with South Korea of $51.4 billion in 2023, driven by strong U.S. consumer demand for Korean automobiles and electronics.
Brazil: The South American Giant
As South America’s largest economy, Brazil is a significant and growing market for U.S. exports. Brazil purchased $45 billion in American goods in 2023, making it the ninth-largest destination for U.S. products.
Top U.S. exports to Brazil concentrate on energy and high-value capital goods. Mineral fuels, particularly refined petroleum, lead exports with sales exceeding $8.5 billion. Brazil is also a major market for the U.S. aerospace industry, with exports of aircraft, spacecraft, and parts valued at over $7.2 billion.
Other key exports include machinery and electrical equipment to support Brazil’s industrial and agricultural sectors, as well as organic chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceutical products.
The U.S. and Brazil are major trading partners in the Western Hemisphere, though their relationship isn’t governed by a comprehensive free trade agreement like the USMCA. The bilateral trade balance tends to be relatively close and can fluctuate based on global commodity prices and economic performance of both nations.
France: High-Value Exchange
France rounds out the top 10 U.S. export markets, with French imports of American goods totaling $44 billion in 2023. Similar to Germany, U.S. trade with France features exchange of sophisticated, high-value industrial and technological products.
Energy products are the largest U.S. export category to France, with hydrocarbons, especially liquefied natural gas, valued at over €12 billion. The volume of these exports can fluctuate significantly depending on Europe’s overall energy demand and geopolitical factors.
The transatlantic aerospace industry represents another core component, with U.S. exports of aircraft and parts valued at over €9 billion. France is also a key market for U.S. medical innovation, with pharmaceutical product exports reaching nearly €5 billion.
The leading U.S. states exporting to France are Texas and Louisiana, directly reflecting their prominent role in the energy sector. The United States ran a goods trade deficit with France of $13.4 billion in 2023, driven by American imports of French luxury goods, beverages, and aircraft.
A Decade of Change
The landscape of U.S. exports has been reshaped by profound shifts in economic policy, geopolitical alignments, and technological innovation over the past decade. Comparing the top markets of 2023 to those of 2013 and 2018 reveals which partnerships have strengthened and which have faced new challenges.
| Country | 2013 Rank | 2013 Value ($B) | 2018 Rank | 2018 Value ($B) | 2023 Rank | 2023 Value ($B) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 1 | $300.7 | 1 | $299.7 | 1 | $352.0 |
| Mexico | 2 | $226.1 | 2 | $265.4 | 2 | $323.0 |
| China | 3 | $121.7 | 3 | $120.1 | 3 | $147.8 |
| Japan | 4 | $65.2 | 4 | $75.2 | 6 | $76.0 |
| United Kingdom | 5 | $47.3 | 5 | $66.3 | 7 | $74.0 |
| Germany | 6 | $46.9 | 6 | $57.7 | 5 | $77.0 |
| Brazil | 7 | $44.1 | 11 | $39.4 | 9 | $45.0 |
| South Korea | 8 | $41.7 | 7 | $56.5 | 8 | $64.0 |
| Netherlands | 9 | $42.5 | 8 | $48.7 | 4 | $82.0 |
| France | 12 | $31.0 | 9 | $36.6 | 10 | $44.0 |
North American Dominance
Canada and Mexico have consistently held the top two spots, and their combined share of U.S. exports has grown. In 2023, they accounted for 33.4% of all U.S. goods exports. This enduring strength builds on geographic proximity and deep economic integration fostered by NAFTA and its successor, the USMCA.
The strategic push for “nearshoring” to create more resilient supply chains has further enhanced Mexico’s role as a vital partner. This isn’t simply trade—it’s a continental co-production ecosystem where America’s economic health links inextricably to its neighbors.
The Netherlands Energy Hub
The Netherlands has vaulted from ninth-largest market in 2013 to fourth-largest in 2023, with U.S. exports nearly doubling. This dramatic shift is a direct consequence of the U.S. shale revolution, which transformed America into a net energy exporter.
As geopolitical events, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, forced Europe to diversify energy sources, the U.S. stepped in to fill the void. The Netherlands, with its world-class Port of Rotterdam, became the logical gateway for massive new flows of American LNG and crude oil, generating America’s largest bilateral trade surplus.
China Relationship Complexity
While China has held its position at number three, growth in U.S. exports to China has been markedly slower than to partners in North America or Europe. Export values were nearly flat between 2013 and 2018. This period was defined by the U.S.-China trade war and imposition of Section 301 tariffs.
The subsequent phase has been one of managed competition, with deliberate U.S. export controls on sensitive technologies like advanced semiconductors further tempering trade growth. The future of this relationship appears driven less by pure market forces and more by strategic geopolitical calculations.
Forces Driving Change
These shifts in America’s top export markets aren’t random. They result from deliberate policy choices, major geopolitical events, and fundamental changes in global economic structure.
Trade Agreements as Stabilizers
The USMCA (2020) modernized the 25-year-old NAFTA, providing critical certainty for North American supply chains while adding new chapters on digital trade, labor, and environment.
The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS, 2012) deepened the economic pillar of a key security alliance, opening markets for U.S. agriculture and automobiles. The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (2020) secured preferential access for American farm products in a vital Asian market.
Tariffs as Disruptors
Section 301 tariffs on China, first imposed in 2018, fundamentally altered that trade dynamic by targeting what the U.S. deemed unfair trade practices, leading to retaliatory tariffs and increased costs for businesses in both countries.
Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, imposed on national security grounds, affected a wide range of partners, including close allies, and led to a complex web of negotiations, exemptions, and retaliatory measures that continues shaping global trade flows.
Structural Economic Shifts
The U.S. energy boom is the most prominent example, reshaping global energy markets and elevating the importance of energy-importing nations. The global reconfiguration of supply chains, accelerated by COVID-19 and desires for greater economic resilience, has fueled nearshoring trends that benefit Mexico and increased the strategic value of trade with stable, allied partners.
Currency fluctuations and inflation create constant headwinds or tailwinds for American exporters. A strong U.S. dollar makes American goods more expensive for foreign buyers, potentially dampening demand.
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