The United States is known around the world as an economic powerhouse. The U.S. has a massive domestic market and economy. But exports also make up a sizable chunk of U.S. economic activity and growth. Exports totaled around $2.5 trillion in 2019 for goods and services combined, showing why trade flows matter for America.
So which products does the U.S. export the most? Getting into the details provides insights into America’s top economic sectors and industries on the world stage. Being the world’s biggest economy still, U.S. exports wield influence globally too.
Let’s explore America’s 10 leading export categories and why they top the export list.
Leading U.S. Exports
America ships a diverse range of goods and services abroad. Top categories encompass leading-edge technology, industrial equipment, refined energy products, and more.
The top 10 American exports in 2021 according to official trade data were:
- Refined Petroleum
- Planes, Helicopters, and Spacecraft
- Cars and Vehicle Parts
- Packaged Medicaments
- Broadcast and Telecom Equipment
- Semiconductors
- Plastic Materials
- Medical Instruments
- Gems, Precious Metals, and Coins
- Corn
Now let’s get into specifics about each export category in America’s top 10 list.
#1: Refined Petroleum
It may be surprising that refined fuel products like gasoline and diesel top America’s export list. The U.S. is famously a net energy importer, sucking in huge amounts of crude oil from abroad.
But America’s advanced oil refineries and expanding oil production from fracking have turned the U.S. into a major refined fuel exporter. Gasoline, diesel, and other fuel exports exceeded $141 billion in 2021. Much of it flows south to Mexico and Latin America.
#2: Planes, Helicopters, and Spacecraft
This category encompasses complete civilian aircraft along with manned spacecraft, engines, and related gear. Large passenger airliners like Boeing’s 737 and 787 fuel over $90 billion in exports, making America dominant globally aside from Europe’s Airbus. Regional passenger planes and business jets contribute too.
Major partners buying pricey U.S. aircraft include China, Japan, Germany, the U.K., and France. Boeing and emerging aerospace players make the U.S. a high-tech aircraft export leader.
#3: Cars and Light Trucks
America’s enduring manufacturing might shows up in vehicle exports valued at $75 billion in 2021. While Japan and Germany export more vehicles in total, the U.S. leads in higher-value cars and light trucks. Upscale brands leading vehicle exports include Tesla, BMW’s U.S. plants, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota’s American factories, and more.
Canada and China take a large share of U.S. auto exports, followed by Mexico and Germany. As American automakers keep turning out desirable SUVs, trucks, and EVs, this export category should stay strong.
#4: Packaged Medicaments
Medicine exports encompassed $55 billion last year, making the U.S. the globe’s leading exporter of packaged drugs and therapeutic compounds. Multinational pharma giants like Pfizer, Merck & Co, and Johnson and Johnson churn out biologics, vaccines, oncology drugs, and complex compounds at American plants.
High-value U.S. drug exports ship worldwide, especially to European and Asian markets. Canada also takes major share. As U.S. labs pioneer new biological drugs and gene therapies, medicament exports should continue growing.
#5: Broadcast and Telecom Equipment
Encompassing gear like smartphones, TV transmission devices, interfaces, and more, this sector saw $53 billion in exports last year. Telecom infrastructure equipment demanded in Asia and Oceania networks drives much demand. American broadcast gear also equips media channels globally.
With U.S. electronics manufacturers advancing wireless standards like 5G, exports seem poised for durable growth. But Chinese firms like Huawei may aim to displace American dominance in communications equipment over time.
#6: Semiconductors
Critical chips that power devices and computing drove $47 billion in exports in 2021 as shortages roiled global supply chains. Most American semiconductor exports consist of high-capacity memory and logic/processing chips demanded in electronics and computing worldwide. Leading makers include Intel and Micron.
U.S. chips flow significantly to offshore assembly plants in East Asia finishing computers, smartphones, vehicles, data centers, and more products. Sustaining reasonable market share against Asian chip fabrication rivals remains an American export priority.
#7: Plastic Materials
Don’t overlook the U.S. plastics and organic chemicals industry powering exports too. Plastic resins and materials yielded over $40 billion in overseas sales last year. Polyethylene plastics make up a major portion, with sizable exports to Mexico plus Central and South America.
As the world economy keeps using higher plastic volumes despite environmental concerns, American petrochemical companies pumping out resins and compounds benefit. Dow, LyondellBasell, and Chevron Phillips rank among leading makers.
#8: Medical Instruments
Sophisticated scanning devices, imaging systems, patient monitors and more drive over $40 billion in medical gear exports as well from America. Top destinations include China, Mexico, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands.
With an aging global population demanding more diagnostics and care, U.S. instrument exports should stay strong. Philips Healthcare, Medtronic, GE Healthcare and more lead major medical device production in America.
#9: Gems, Precious Metals, and Coins
Unlike most categories here, this somewhat unique export group leans more toward physical precious materials rather than advanced finished goods or chemicals. Still, over $39 billion flowed out last year in gems, coins, gold, silver, jewelry, and other prized commodities.
Switzerland, India, Hong Kong, Canada and Britain take leading portions of America’s high-value precious exports category. The U.S. does refine considerable gold, silver, platinum, and gems for export in processed form. Coins and collectors items add more uniqueness.
#10: Corn
Maybe surprising as well: corn ranks as America’s 10th leading export overall at $38 billion exported in 2021. U.S. farmers turn out astonishing corn volumes, with much going abroad. Corn ships in raw unprocessed form or as assorted byproducts like sweeteners and alcohol.
The Asia Pacific region takes about half of American corn exports, headed by Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Colombia. China imports considerable volumes too despite political tensions with the U.S. America’s massive corn output seems likely to drive ongoing export growth.
The Breadth of U.S. Exports
Reviewing top American exports shows impressive diversity spanning energy, aircraft, vehicles, chemicals, food, and advanced electronics. Ongoing competitive strength across these sectors pumps out goods desired globally.
With high skilled labor, advanced technology, abundant resources and massive output scale, U.S. exports should keep thriving even as emerging markets grow abroad. America outpaces every other national economy except China in export value today in fact.
Below is a summary table highlighting America’s top 10 exports:
| Rank | Export Category | 2021 Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refined Petroleum | $141 billion |
| 2 | Planes, Helicopters, Spacecraft | $90 billion |
| 3 | Cars and Light Trucks | $75 billion |
| 4 | Packaged Medicaments | $55 billion |
| 5 | Broadcast and Telecom Equipment | $53 billion |
| 6 | Semiconductors | $47 billion |
| 7 | Plastic Materials | $41 billion |
| 8 | Medical Instruments | $40 billion |
| 9 | Gems, Precious Metals, Coins | $39 billion |
| 10 | Corn | $38 billion |
Hopefully this breakdown gives more useful perspective on America’s leading exports that bring in cash abroad! Let me know if you have any other questions.
