The United States of America imported US$3.359 trillion worth of products from around the world in 2024.

That dollar amount reflects a 39.6% increase compared to $2.407 trillion in 2020 and a slower 5.9% year-over-year uptick from $3.173 trillion during 2023.

America’s Best International Trade Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 72.9% of products imported into America was furnished by exporters in: Mexico (15.2% of the American total), mainland China (13.8%), Canada (12.6%), Germany (4.9%), Japan (4.5%), Vietnam (4.2%), South Korea (4%), Taiwan (3.5%), Ireland (3.1%), India (2.7%), Italy (2.3%) and the United Kingdom (2.1%).

From a continental perspective, 42.6% of America’s total imports by value in 2024 was purchased from suppliers in Asia. Fellow North American trade partners Mexico and Canada furnished 27.7% of imported products bought by the United States while 22.8% worth originated from Europe.

Smaller percentages of American imports came from providers in Latin America (4.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.2%), then Oceania (0.7%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

United States Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in America’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into the US.

1. Machinery including computers: US$531.2 billion (15.8% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $485.9 billion (14.5%)
3. Vehicles: $391.5 billion (11.7%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $251.1 billion (7.5%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $212.7 billion (6.3%)
6. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $124.8 billion (3.7%)
7. Gems, precious metals: $89.7 billion (2.7%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $78.2 billion (2.3%)
9. Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: $72.6 billion (2.2%)
10. Organic chemicals: $71.1 billion (2.1%)

The above product categories accounted for over two-thirds (68.7%) of total U.S. imports during 2024.

America’s imports of pharmaceuticals were the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 product categories, up 19.6% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place were U.S. imports of machinery including computers (up 15.7%).

The third leading increase was the 8.1% advance for imported plastics both as materials and items made from plastic.

The sole decline in American spending on top imports belongs to the mineral fuels including oil product category (down -5.8% from 2023).

Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section America’s Most Valuable Import Products: Detailed further down near the bottom of this article and under the major sections below.

Major U.S. Imports of Machinery Products Including Computers

In 2024, American importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$141.4 billion (up 35.8% from 2023)
2. Computer parts, accessories: $54.8 billion (up 69%)
3. Turbo-jets: $30.9 billion (up 7.6%)
4. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $18.3 billion (up 5.1%)
5. Air or vacuum pumps: $16.2 billion (up 9.5%)
6. Air conditioners: $15.4 billion (up 7.8%)
7. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $14.9 billion (up 6.3%)
8. Printing machinery: $14.7 billion (up 8.3%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $14.22 billion (up 9.3%)
10. Refrigerators, freezers: $14.16 billion (up 2.1%)

Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 69%), computers including optical readers (up 35.8%) then air or vacuum pumps (up 9.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among U.S. businesses and consumers.

Major U.S. Imports of Electronics Products

In 2024, American importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics equipment.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$115.1 billion (down -2.8% from 2023)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $40.4 billion (up 12%)
3. Electric storage batteries: $32.4 billion (up 8.9%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $32 billion (up 5.5%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $29.8 billion (up 8.9%)
6. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $23.3 billion (down -13.1%)
7. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $21.1 billion (up 0.9%)
8. Unrecorded sound media: $20.3 billion (up 69.1%)
9. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $20.1 billion (up 6.6%)
10. Electrical machinery: $17.1 billion (up 3.9%)

Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of unrecorded sound media (up 69.1%), integrated circuits and microassemblies (up 12%) then electric storage batteries (up 8.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

Major U.S. Imports of Vehicles Plus Related Products

In 2024, American importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$219.5 billion (up 4.4% from 2023)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $89.9 billion (up 2.4%)
3. Trucks: $47.8 billion (up 9.3%)
4. Tractors: $15.7 billion (down -20.2%)
5. Trailers: $5.8 billion (down -17%)
6. Motorcycles: $4 billion (down -6.3%)
7. Special purpose vehicles: $1.74 billion (up 25.1%)
8. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $1.67 billion (down -2.4%)
9. Public-transport vehicles: $1.4 billion (up 22.5%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $1.1 billion (down -13.2%)

Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of special purpose vehicles (up 25.1%), public-transport vehicles (up 22.5%) then trucks (up 9.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among U.S. businesses and consumers.

Major U.S. Imports of Mineral Fuels Plus Related Products

In 2024, American importers spent the most on the following subcategories of mineral fuels and related products.

1. Crude oil: US$174.4 billion (up 1.2% from 2023)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $58.7 billion (down -14.9%)
3. Petroleum gases: $10.3 billion (down -35.9%)
4. Petroleum oil residues: $2.7 billion (down -1%)
5. Electrical energy: $2.3 billion (down -34.5%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $1.1 billion (up 14.2%)
7. Peat: $479.9 million (down -2.9%)
8. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $367.1 million (down -38.1%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $343.6 million (up 2.5%)
10. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $178.1 million (down -4.1%)

Among these import subcategories, U.S. purchases of high-temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 14.2%), petroleum jelly and mineral waxes (up 2.5%) and crude oil (up 1.2%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported pharmaceuticals among U.S. businesses and consumers.
 

America’s Most Valuable Import Products: Detailed List

The following listing highlights 20 of America’s most in-demand imported goods during 2024.

Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2023.

1. Cars: US$219.5 billion (up 4.4% from 2023)
2. Crude oil: $174.4 billion (up 1.2%)
3. Computers, optical readers: $141.4 billion (up 35.8%)
4. Phone devices including smartphones: $115.1 billion (down -2.8%)
5. Blood fractions (including antisera): $109.2 billion (up 33.2%)
6. Medication mixes in dosage: $94.7 billion (up 8.3%)
7. Automobile parts/accessories: $89.9 billion (up 2.4%)
8. Processed petroleum oils: $58.7 billion (down -14.9%)
9. Computer parts, accessories: $54.8 billion (up 69%)
10. Trucks: $47.8 billion (up 9.3%)
11. Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays): $41.5 billion (up 9.4%)
12. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $40.4 billion (up 12%)
13. Electric storage batteries: $32.4 billion (up 8.9%)
14. Insulated wire/cable: $32 billion (up 5.5%)
15. Turbo-jets: $30.9 billion (up 7.6%)
16. Electrical converters/power units: $29.8 billion (up 8.9%)
17. Miscellaneous furniture: $29 billion (up 6.7%)
18. Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs): $27.3 billion (up 5.1%)
19. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $23.3 billion (down -13.1%)
20. Other precious metal items: $21.2 billion (up 49.1%)

These 20 top imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$1.413 trillion or more than two-fifths (42.1%) by value for all spending on imported products by the United States during 2024.

Year over year, the strongest increases in demand for America’s imported products were for computer parts or accessories (up 69% from 2023), miscellaneous precious metals (up 49.1%), computers including optical readers (up 35.8%), blood fractions including antisera (up 33.2%) then electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies (up 12%).

See also United States Top 10 Exports, America’s Top Trading Partners, Top United States Trade Balances and America’s Top 20 Export States and United States Top 10 Major Export Companies

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on February 25, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 25, 2025

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on February 25, 2025