Aircraft, petroleum, vehicles and medicine are big business in the world’s largest economy. Here’s how it breaks down for all 50 states.
Aircraft, petroleum, vehicles and medicine are big business in the world’s largest economy. Here’s how it breaks down for all 50 states.
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.
Scroll to Continue
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: PolycarbonatesAlabama is home to three major auto manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Hyundai.
Alaska
Top import: PetroleumTop export: ZincTop unique import: Telecommunications instrumentsTop unique export: ZincArizona
Top import: AircraftTop export: AircraftTop unique import: TomatoesTop unique export: SemiconductorsArkansas
Top import: AircraftTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Military projectilesTop unique export: RiceCalifornia
Top import: VehiclesTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Data monitorsTop unique export: VehiclesColorado
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Cow meatTop unique import: Hearing aidsTop unique export: Machine insulationConnecticut
Top import: SilverTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Sulfa drugsTop unique export: Propellors and rotorsDelaware
Top import: MedicineTop export: MedicineTop unique import: PineapplesTop unique export: Electric motorsFlorida
Top import: Nucleic acidsTop export: AircraftTop unique import: SalmonTop unique export: FertilizersGeorgia
Top import: VehiclesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: MedicineTop unique export: ClayGeorgia is home to the only Kia manufacturing plant in the U.S.
Hawaii
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Ferrous scrapTop unique import: TunaTop unique export: ShrimpIdaho
Top import: Data processing partsTop export: SemiconductorsTop unique import: ResistorsTop unique export: SilverIllinois
Top import: TelephonesTop export: MedicineTop unique import: TractorsTop unique export: Dump trucksIndiana
Top import: MedicineTop export: MedicineTop unique import: HormonesTop unique export: TrailersIowa
Top import: Road tractorsTop export: CornTop unique import: GelatinTop unique export: Molybdenum oresKansas
Top import: Airplane partsTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Radio apparatusTop unique export: Great milletKentucky
Top import: Vaccines and antibodiesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Vaccines and antibodiesTop unique export: Steering wheelsLouisiana
Top import: PetroleumTop export: SoybeansTop unique import: Palm oilTop unique export: Chemical compoundsMaine
Top import: Light oilsTop export: LobsterTop unique import: LobsterTop unique export: LobsterMaryland
Top import: VehiclesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: TinTop unique export: Nucleic acidsMassachusetts
Top import: Light oilsTop export: GoldTop unique import: LobsterTop unique export: PearlsMichigan
Top import: VehiclesTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Electrical lightingTop unique export: Rear-view mirrorsMinnesota
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Light oilsTop unique import: PacemakersTop unique export: Iron oreMississippi
Top import: PetroleumTop export: PetroleumTop unique import: FansTop unique export: ToolsMissouri
Top import: PetroleumTop export: VehiclesTop unique import: Electric motorsTop unique export: Chemical compoundsMontana
Top import: PetroleumTop export: CoalTop unique import: CigarettesTop unique export: CoalNebraska
Top import: Nucleic acidsTop export: Cow meatTop unique import: Chemical compoundsTop unique export: SyringesNevada
Top import: Electrical processorsTop export: GoldTop unique import: BatteriesTop unique export: Coin gamesNew Hampshire
Top import: Airplane partsTop export: AircraftTop unique import: RubberTop unique export: Radio partsNew Jersey
Top import: MedicineTop export: PalladiumTop unique import: CheeseTop unique export: PlatinumNew Mexico
Top import: Data processing partsTop export: Data processing partsTop unique import: TransmittersTop unique export: PetroleumNew York
Top import: Precious metalTop export: DiamondsTop unique import: DiamondsTop unique export: SculpturesNorth Carolina
Top import: Vaccines and antibodiesTop export: Vaccines and antibodiesTop unique import: HormonesTop unique export: MedicineNorth Dakota
Top import: PlatinumTop export: Light oilsTop unique import: RapeseedTop unique export: RapeseedRapeseed is used to produce canola oil.
Ohio
Top import: MedicineTop export: AircraftTop unique import: MedicineTop unique export: Sanitary towelsOklahoma
Top import: PetroleumTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Metal residueTop unique export: VehiclesOregon
Top import: Semiconductor machinesTop export: Electrical processorsTop unique import: Alloy steelTop unique export: Potassium chloridePennsylvania
Top import: MedicineTop export: MedicineTop unique import: VaccinesTop unique export: Diesel trainsRhode Island
Top import: VehiclesTop export: Precious metalTop unique import: VehiclesTop unique export: Vaccines and antibodiesTico Tractors
South Carolina
Top import: UraniumTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Tractor cabsTop unique export: VehiclesTico is a tractor cab company in Ridgeland, S.C.
South Dakota
Top import: Cow meatTop export: Brewing dregsTop unique import: Cow meatTop unique export: Pig meatBrewing 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 sutureTexas
Top import: PetroleumTop export: PetroleumTop unique import: Human bloodTop unique export: Acyclic ethersUtah
Top import: GoldTop export: GoldTop unique import: Cutting machinesTop unique export: Safety airbagsVermont
Top import: Electrical energyTop export: Electronic circuitsTop unique import: ChocolateTop unique export: Machine partsVirginia
Top import: Printer partsTop export: CoalTop unique import: WatersTop unique export: NonwovensWashington
Top import: VehiclesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Metal furnitureTop unique export: Soybean floursWest Virginia
Top import: Airplane partsTop export: CoalTop unique import: Cutting machinesTop unique export: PolyethersWisconsin
Top import: VaccinesTop export: AircraftTop unique import: Aircraft enginesTop unique export: Marine vehicle enginesWyoming
Top import: PetroleumTop export: Disodium carbonateTop unique import: Ammonium nitrateTop unique export: Rare gasesYou can see the methodology for this study, and related visualizations, at Ondeck.com.