Top 10 Exports Of USA: Categories, Values, & Partners

The United States shipped roughly $2.2 trillion of goods abroad in 2025, the second-largest export economy on the planet behind China. What it actually sold to the world shifted meaningfully from the version most online lists describe.

Pharmaceutical preparations moved into the top spot. Nonmonetary gold surged. China dropped sharply as a destination after retaliating against US tariffs. Trade deals with the EU, Japan, the UK, and South Korea reshuffled which markets were realistic for which categories.

Most lists you’ll find online conflate industry revenue with export value (treating oil and gas extraction industry sales as if they were the US export figure, which they aren’t) or anchor on 2022-23 data that misses the 2025 tariff turbulence entirely. The result is a top 10 that looks plausible but is wrong on every number that matters.

At Artemus Transportation Solutions, we work with US exporters and customs brokers filing AES and managing export documentation every day, so we see how this list translates into actual compliance work. The guide below covers what the US currently exports, where it goes, what 2025 tariffs and retaliation did to which categories, and the export filings every US exporter needs to handle.

The US Export Picture At A Glance

The United States exported approximately $2.2 trillion of goods in 2025, up roughly 5.5% from $2.064 trillion in 2024. The top 3 exports by value are pharmaceutical preparations ($119.8 billion), crude oil ($99.7 billion), and nonmonetary gold (which surged in 2025 on higher gold prices and investment flows). 

The full top 10 also includes civilian aircraft and aerospace parts, refined petroleum products, semiconductors, industrial machinery, motor vehicles and parts, LNG, and agricultural commodities. Together, these 10 categories account for roughly 44-45% of total US goods export value, per the Census Bureau FT-900 data referenced by Shipping Solutions.

Total Export Value & Year-Over-Year Growth

Per Logistics Material’s 2025 BEA and Census Bureau breakdown, goods exports for 2025 reached approximately $2,197.5 billion, an increase of over $117 billion from 2024. Worldstopexports’ 2025 analysis puts the figure at $2.178 trillion (slightly different aggregation rules), with year-over-year growth of 5.5%. 

The five leading single-product exports (refined petroleum oils, crude oil, petroleum gases, unwrought gold, and computers) together accounted for over 27% of overall US exports, a relatively concentrated mix.

Looking back further, the trajectory shows the post-pandemic rebound and the recent return to growth after the 2023 dip. The table below tracks total US goods exports by year alongside the year-over-year change.

Figures from Census Bureau Annual Press Highlights and BEA. The 2024 figure was revised upward to $2,079.8 billion in the final 2025 reporting. Over the five-year window, US goods exports grew approximately 54%, driven by energy, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace.

Goods Vs Services (Why This Guide Focuses On Goods)

The US also exports roughly $1.1 trillion in services annually (financial services, travel, software, IP licensing, professional services). This guide focuses on goods exports because that’s where the customs filings, tariff rules, and AES compliance live. If you’re researching US services exports, that’s a separate trade picture with its own data series. 

For goods, the $2.2 trillion figure and the categories below are what crosses the US border under formal export filings.

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Top 10 Exports Of USA (Ranked By 2025 Value)

Summary Comparison Table

Ranked by 2025 export value at the HS-4 or single-product level where possible, with category context and 2025 change notes. Where ranges appear, different sources count slightly different sub-categories.

1. Pharmaceutical Preparations ($119.8 Billion)

Pharmaceutical preparations became the single largest US export commodity in 2025 at approximately $119.8 billion. The category covers finished medicines, therapeutic products, and biologics ready for distribution. Major destinations include developed economies with high medical-technology uptake (Europe, Japan, Australia) and emerging markets upgrading healthcare infrastructure. 

The size of this category reflects US leadership in biotechnology, branded pharmaceuticals, and advanced life sciences manufacturing.

2. Crude Oil ($99.7 Billion)

Crude oil exports reached approximately $99.7 billion in 2025, driven by increased domestic production and global demand. Since the 2015 removal of the US crude oil export ban, the United States has become one of the largest crude exporters in the world. Primary destinations include the Netherlands (Rotterdam acts as a redistribution hub for European refineries), South Korea, India, and the UK. 

US crude exports surged to a record 12.9 million barrels per day in April 2025 amid Middle East supply concerns.

3. Nonmonetary Gold (Surging In 2025)

Nonmonetary gold (gold traded for commercial, industrial, or investment purposes) was the third-largest US export category in 2025. This category fluctuates significantly year to year because it’s driven by commodity prices and global financial flows rather than industrial production. 

Rising gold prices in 2025 drove a large increase in dollar-value exports, which is why gold appears prominently in 2025 figures despite typically sitting lower in the rankings. Switzerland is the dominant destination, since it acts as a global gold refining and trading hub.

4. Civilian Aircraft Engines & Aerospace Parts ($130.5 Billion)

Aircraft, spacecraft, and related components exported at approximately $130.5 billion in 2025, up about 32.7% from 2024, making aerospace one of the fastest-growing top categories. This includes complete civilian aircraft, engines, parts, and maintenance services. 

As Visual Capitalist’s analysis of US export by state notes, aircraft is the most widespread top export by state, leading in 13 states, and aerospace and defense is the only US manufacturing sector with a net trade surplus, fueling almost $1 trillion in economic activity annually.

5. Refined Petroleum Products ($224.6 Billion)

Refined petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, distillates) reached approximately $224.6 billion at the HS-2 aggregate level in 2025, up 10.9% from 2024. The split between crude oil and refined products often confuses casual lists. 

At single-product HS-4 level, crude oil and individual refined product codes each show as separate top-10 entries. Combined, crude oil and refined petroleum products account for over 8% of total US goods exports. Key destinations include Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Brazil.

6. Semiconductors & Electronic Components (Approximately $214 Billion, HS-2)

Semiconductors, integrated circuits, and electronic components are high-value, high-demand US exports, particularly to Asian manufacturing hubs and major tech buyers. The category dominates exports from Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, and Texas (where Intel, Samsung, and TSMC manufacturing investments concentrate). 

With US export controls on advanced semiconductors to China tightening through 2025, the destination mix shifted toward Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Netherlands.

7. Industrial Machinery & Capital Goods (Approximately $220 Billion, HS-2)

Heavy machinery, manufacturing equipment, boilers, reactors, and allied capital goods are a cornerstone export, underpinning global manufacturing and infrastructure buildouts. Capital goods (including machinery) accounted for the largest single increase in US exports in 2024, rising by approximately $40 billion. 

Destinations span Europe, Asia, and Latin America wherever industrial investment is robust.

8. Motor Vehicles & Parts (Approximately $150 Billion)

Motor vehicles, auto parts, and engines export at roughly $150 billion combined, though 2025 saw an 8.6% decline at the category level, the largest drop among the top 10. The decline reflects 2025 tariff turbulence, particularly the 25% tariff on imported autos and the integrated North American supply chain disruption from USMCA tariff actions. 

Most US vehicle exports flow to Canada, Mexico, and Germany, with auto parts spread across a wider destination set.

9. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) (Approximately $45 Billion)

LNG exports reached approximately $45 billion in 2025, with rapid growth as additional US export terminals came online. LNG has become a strategic US export tool, particularly to European buyers who shifted away from Russian gas after 2022, and to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. 

Petroleum gases at the HS-4 level were the third-largest single-product US export in 2025 when LNG and other gas products are aggregated.

10. Agricultural Commodities (Approximately $180 Billion Combined)

US agricultural exports reached the third-highest level on record in 2024. The top 10 agricultural exports (soybeans, corn, beef and beef products, tree nuts, pork, dairy, soybean meal, food preparations, wheat, and poultry) together account for 57% of total US agricultural export value. 

Agricultural exports were also the category most affected by the 2025 retaliation, with US wine exports to Canada falling 78% and US soybean exports to China hit hard by China’s February 2025 retaliatory tariffs. The American Enterprise Institute’s post-Liberation Day agricultural analysis lays out the impact category by category.

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Top US Export Partners & Markets

Where the top 10 categories actually land matters as much as the categories themselves, particularly in a year when retaliatory tariffs reshaped which markets were realistic for US exporters. 

The table below covers the major US export destinations by 2025 value, the categories they buy most, and how the 2025 tariff sequence affected each.

Canada and Mexico together still account for roughly a third of US goods exports, anchored by USMCA and deeply integrated North American supply chains. The Peterson Institute’s H1 2025 trade analysis notes that foreign retaliation against US exports was “barely noticeable” in aggregate during the first half of 2025, but the picture changed considerably for specific markets and categories. 

US exports to the UK surged on the back of a bilateral trade deal, while exports to China dropped sharply on retaliation. India is a growing destination, particularly for energy and aircraft, with a separate US export flow to India picture worth tracking on the inbound side.

US Exports By Region (Continental Breakdown)

Beyond the country-level view, the regional rollup gives a clearer picture of where US exports actually land. North America, Asia, and Europe together absorbed roughly 86% of US goods exports in 2025. Per Worldstopexports’ continental analysis of 2025 US exports, the regional shares break down as follows:

The 2025 share figures shifted notably from 2024, when North America held 33.1% and Europe 23.5%. The 3-4 percentage point reshuffling reflects 2025 trade-deal effects (the UK and EU growing) and retaliation drag (China shrinking, which pulled the Asia share down despite growth in Taiwan, Japan, and India). 

For US exporters thinking about market diversification, the regional view also exposes the concentration risk: any disruption to North America, Europe, or Asia would affect a much larger share of US exports than any one country-level shock.

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US Export Compliance: AES, ECCN, & Export Controls

Every commercial export valued over $2,500 per Schedule B classification (or any value requiring a license) needs an Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing through the Automated Export System (AES). This is where the day-to-day compliance load actually lives for US exporters and their freight forwarders.

Electronic Export Information (EEI) Filing Via AES

AES is the US Census Bureau and CBP system for collecting export shipment data. The exporter (or an authorized agent like a freight forwarder) submits EEI through AES before the goods leave the US. 

Required data includes the parties to the transaction, Schedule B classification, value, country of ultimate destination, mode of transport, and any license information. Late filings, missing filings, or material errors carry penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, and a pattern of violations can lead to the denial of export privileges.

ECCN Classification & Export Control Categories

Many US exports require classification under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) using an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN). The ECCN determines whether a license is required for a particular destination, end-user, or end-use. 

Common ECCN-controlled exports include encryption software, semiconductors above certain technical thresholds, dual-use industrial equipment, and military-adjacent items. Misclassification can trigger Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) enforcement, and BIS penalties have been a notable enforcement focus through 2025.

Schedule B Numbers & Common AES Errors That Trigger Hold Or Penalty

Schedule B is the US-specific 10-digit classification system maintained by the Census Bureau for export reporting (it parallels the HTS used for imports but is not identical). Common AES errors include wrong Schedule B classification, mismatched country of origin and country of destination, missing or incorrect ECCN, late filings (after the goods have already departed), and discrepancies between AES filings and ocean carrier AMS data. 

Our companion guide on the Merchandise Processing Fee and related US customs fees covers the import-side equivalent. For exports specifically, the filing quality issue is what matters: clean AES submissions move shipments cleanly; sloppy ones generate holds, post-departure corrections, and penalty exposure.

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How Artemus Helps US Exporters Move Goods Abroad

The day-to-day work of US exporting is filing accuracy and documentation discipline. AES errors, Schedule B misclassifications, missed ECCN reviews, and inconsistent paperwork between the carrier, the broker, and the EEI filing produce the same effect: shipments hold, post-departure corrections multiply, and penalty exposure grows. None of these are insurmountable, but they all scale with volume.

At Artemus, our AES filing software handles EEI submissions directly into the Automated Export System with built-in classification validation and license flagging. Our NVOCC software handles the ocean carrier side of the workflow for exporters and freight forwarders working with non-vessel-operating common carriers. The combination of AES filing, customs broker software, and the underlying compliance tooling means US exporters can scale shipment volume without scaling vendor count or per-shipment error rate. For exporters navigating the 2025-26 tariff and retaliation environment, accurate AES filings are the precondition for everything else.

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FAQs

1. What Are The Top 10 Exports Of USA?

By 2025 value: (1) pharmaceutical preparations ($119.8B), (2) crude oil ($99.7B), (3) nonmonetary gold, (4) civilian aircraft and aerospace parts ($130.5B), (5) refined petroleum products ($224.6B at HS-2), (6) semiconductors and electronic components, (7) industrial machinery and capital goods, (8) motor vehicles and parts, (9) liquefied natural gas, and (10) agricultural commodities (soybeans, corn, beef, tree nuts).

2. What Are The Top 3 Exports Of The United States?

The top 3 US exports by single-product value in 2025 are pharmaceutical preparations ($119.8 billion), crude oil ($99.7 billion), and nonmonetary gold (which surged in 2025 on commodity price increases and investment flows). Civilian aircraft engines and aerospace parts round out the top 4 at $130.5 billion when the aerospace category is taken as a single aggregate.

3. What Is The Number One US Export?

Pharmaceutical preparations were the single largest US export commodity in 2025 at approximately $119.8 billion. The category covers finished medicines and therapeutic products and reflects US leadership in branded pharmaceuticals and life sciences manufacturing. Note that at the HS-2 (broader category) level, refined petroleum products and aircraft each show higher totals, but pharmaceutical preparations lead at the single-product HS-4 level.

4. What Is The Total Value Of US Exports?

Total US goods exports reached approximately $2.2 trillion in 2025, up about 5.5% from $2.064 trillion in 2024. The US is the second-largest goods exporter in the world behind China. When services exports are included (roughly $1.1 trillion annually), total US exports approach $3.3 trillion.

5. Who Are The Top US Export Destinations?

Canada (approximately $350B), Mexico (approximately $330B), and the European Union combined (approximately $370B) are the largest US export destinations by value. Together they account for over a third of US goods exports. China was historically the third-largest single-country destination but dropped sharply in 2025 due to retaliatory tariffs. The UK, Japan, South Korea, and India are also significant destinations.

6. How Does Retaliation From China And Canada Affect US Exports?

China imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 125% on all US exports during peak escalation in April 2025, settling at 10% under a 90-day pause. Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on more than $100 billion of US goods and removed US alcoholic beverages from provincial liquor store shelves, which dropped US wine exports to Canada by 78%. Agricultural commodities and consumer-facing categories took the steepest hit; high-value categories with limited substitutes (pharma, aircraft, gold) were more resilient.

7. What Compliance Filings Does A US Exporter Need?

Every commercial export valued over $2,500 per Schedule B classification (or any value requiring a license) needs an Electronic Export Information filing through the Automated Export System (AES). Items subject to the Export Administration Regulations need an ECCN classification and may require a BIS license depending on destination and end-use. Restricted party screening against the Denied Persons List, Entity List, and SDN List is also required. Standard documentation includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin where applicable, and the export license if required.

8. How Does The US Export More Than $2 Trillion Each Year?

Through scale and diversification across high-value categories. US export strength rests on pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturing, an unmatched aerospace industry (the only US manufacturing sector with a net trade surplus), abundant energy production (crude oil, refined petroleum, LNG), advanced semiconductors and electronics, large-scale agricultural production, and capital goods manufacturing. Together these categories generate enough volume to keep the US as the world’s second-largest goods exporter despite being a net importer overall.

Conclusion

US goods exports cleared $2.2 trillion in 2025, with pharmaceuticals taking the top single-product slot, crude oil holding second, and nonmonetary gold surging into the top three on commodity price strength. Aircraft and aerospace parts grew over 30% year over year. The 2025 retaliatory tariff sequence reshaped which destinations still bought which categories, particularly for agriculture and consumer goods, while high-value categories with limited substitutes held their ground.

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