From oranges grown in Brazil to the recent explosion in popularity of Korean skincare and beauty products, countries' importing and exporting patterns can influence things like national inflation levels and consumer purchasing power. The trickle-down effects are immense — everyone from major corporation CEOs to local small business owners can see the impact of imports and exports on their spending habits and even their entire livelihoods.
Other economic decisions also play an important role. Sometimes, a country chooses to impose taxes on goods imported from another specific country, which the importer must then pay. Conversely, countries that make free trade agreements agree to reduce or eliminate barriers to trade, allowing goods to flow freely between them.
Although all U.S. states are affected by national trade decisions, it's worth noting that not every state is impacted equally. Due to factors like physical location and local dominant industries, some states need more of certain kinds of goods — from cars to furniture parts — in order to function. However, you might be wondering: Which countries does my state import the most goods from?
To answer that question, Stacker compiled a list of the countries from which California imports the most goods, using data from the Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest value of imports in 2024 with California.
Read on to find out which countries you can expect to find the most imported goods from at your local store.
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1 / 30#30. Colombia
- Imports: $1.5 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($1.0 billion)
--- Coffee, tea, mate and spices ($189.8 million)
--- Live trees, plants, bulbs, cut flowers etc. ($124.1 million)
Romrodphoto // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. United Arab Emirates
- Imports: $1.6 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($1.2 billion)
--- Aluminum and articles thereof ($97.7 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($62.5 million)
Gianfranco Vivi // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Costa Rica
- Imports: $1.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($671.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($448.8 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($202.9 million)
Yasonya // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Netherlands
- Imports: $1.8 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($397.0 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($326.8 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($140.8 million)
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5 / 30#26. Ireland
- Imports: $2.0 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($783.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($401.5 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($397.3 million)
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6 / 30#25. Israel
- Imports: $2.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($1.5 billion)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($365.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($177.1 million)
Taras Vyshnya // Shutterstock
7 / 30#24. Australia
- Imports: $2.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Meat and edible meat offal ($704.9 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($299.0 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($204.8 million)
Iurii Dzivinskyi // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Switzerland
- Imports: $3.1 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Clocks and watches and parts thereof ($575.7 million)
--- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and metals and articles thereof; immitation jewellery; coins ($502.1 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($399.8 million)
Tupungato // Shutterstock
9 / 30#22. France
- Imports: $3.9 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($749.7 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($434.0 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($389.5 million)
aleksander hunta // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. Cambodia
- Imports: $3.9 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($970.5 million)
--- Leather art; saddlery, etc.; handbags, etc.; gut articles
Articles of leather; saddlery and harnesses; travel goods, handbags, etc.; articles of gut (other than silkworm) ($788.0 million)
--- Apparel articles and accessories, knit or crochet ($719.4 million)
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11 / 30#20. Guyana
- Imports: $4.0 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($4.0 billion)
--- Ores, slag and ash ($1.0 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($212,256)
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12 / 30#19. United Kingdom
- Imports: $4.1 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($767.4 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($522.9 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($431.2 million)
ALEXANDRE F FAGUNDES // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Ecuador
- Imports: $4.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($3.5 billion)
--- Fish, crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates ($421.2 million)
--- Edible fruit and nuts; citrus fruit or melon peel ($252.2 million)
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14 / 30#17. Philippines
- Imports: $5.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($2.3 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.6 billion)
--- Animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes ($187.9 million)
Focus and Blur // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Iraq
- Imports: $5.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($5.4 billion)
--- Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts, and plans ($3.8 million)
--- Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques ($2.2 million)
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16 / 30#15. Italy
- Imports: $5.5 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($700.1 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($607.2 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($506.8 million)
Sean Hsu // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Singapore
- Imports: $5.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($1.9 billion)
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($1.4 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($479.5 million)
Creativa Images // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Indonesia
- Imports: $6.8 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($1.0 billion)
--- Apparel articles and accessories, knit or crochet ($753.2 million)
--- Footwear, gaiters etc. and parts ($729.3 million)
Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Brazil
- Imports: $7.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($5.5 billion)
--- Iron and steel ($498.5 million)
--- Coffee, tea, mate and spices ($160.1 million)
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. India
- Imports: $7.6 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($2.2 billion)
--- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and metals and articles thereof; immitation jewellery; coins ($931.8 million)
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($783.7 million)
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21 / 30#10. Malaysia
- Imports: $12.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($7.4 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.3 billion)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($1.1 billion)
NaughtyNut // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Germany
- Imports: $14.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($7.6 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.4 billion)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($1.3 billion)
Jack Bkk // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. Thailand
- Imports: $15.1 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($5.0 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($3.8 billion)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($1.1 billion)
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24 / 30#7. Canada
- Imports: $16.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($3.1 billion)
--- Animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes ($1.0 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($877.0 million)
Stockbym // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. Japan
- Imports: $27.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($11.3 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($5.0 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($3.9 billion)
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26 / 30#5. South Korea
- Imports: $30.9 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($8.3 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($8.1 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($5.9 billion)
Efired // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Vietnam
- Imports: $38.5 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($12.4 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($9.8 billion)
--- Footwear, gaiters etc. and parts ($3.2 billion)
Sean Hsu // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Taiwan
- Imports: $40.5 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($24.4 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($9.6 billion)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($812.3 million)
Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Mexico
- Imports: $64.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($13.9 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($13.9 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($7.6 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. China
- Imports: $122.8 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($36.8 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($25.9 billion)
--- Toys, games and sport equipment; parts and accessories ($9.0 billion)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Abby Monteil, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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