Although imports are undoubtedly a major part of the United States economy, the reverse is also true. In fact, according to the United States Trade Office, the U.S. is the second-largest exporter of goods in the world, second to China. The country's trade relationships with the rest of the world are widespread, reaching over 200 countries and territories.
Service exports, such as tourism and software development, are particularly important for the United States' export output. In 2022, for instance, the U.S. exported $926 billion in service exports, a 16.4% increase from 2021. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, other major U.S. exports include aircraft parts and petroleum gas.
Certain states' export rates vary significantly from others, depending on the predominant industries in each area. For example, in July 2025, Texas exported the most goods ($37.5 billion), followed by California ($15.9 billion) and New York ($7.6 billion).
Nationwide economic decisions can also substantially affect overall exports. If a country imposes tariffs—taxes on goods imported from a specific country—impacted countries might introduce retaliatory tariffs as a result.
When tracking U.S. economic activity, you might find yourself wondering: Which countries does my state export the most goods to? And what industries influence what gets exported?
To help answer that question, Stacker compiled a list of countries that Illinois exports the most goods to using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the total value of exports in 2024 with Illinois.
Keep reading to find out which countries your state's exports are most likely headed to in the near future.
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Evgeniya Uvarova // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Argentina
- Exports: $362.6 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($111.4 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($95.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($46.8 million)
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2 / 30#29. Turkey
- Exports: $380.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. ($138.3 million)
--- Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed ($47.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($46.1 million)
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3 / 30#28. Ireland
- Exports: $401.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Pharmaceutical products ($183.4 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($64.2 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($33.0 million)
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4 / 30#27. Italy
- Exports: $409.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($72.7 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($69.2 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($55.3 million)
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5 / 30#26. Vietnam
- Exports: $429.4 million
- Largest exports:
--- Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed ($130.1 million)
--- Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. ($129.1 million)
--- Raw hides and skins (no furskins) and leather ($21.4 million)
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6 / 30#25. Peru
- Exports: $478.2 million
- Largest exports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($248.2 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($81.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($46.1 million)
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7 / 30#24. Thailand
- Exports: $519.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($82.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($66.4 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($47.2 million)
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8 / 30#23. Hong Kong
- Exports: $524.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($254.7 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($80.4 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($25.7 million)
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9 / 30#22. Colombia
- Exports: $558.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Meat and edible meat offal ($105.5 million)
--- Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed ($75.2 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($60.3 million)
HandmadePictures // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. South Africa
- Exports: $616.3 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($251.6 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($158.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($66.0 million)
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11 / 30#20. Indonesia
- Exports: $715.7 million
- Largest exports:
--- Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. ($431.4 million)
--- Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed ($86.6 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($44.0 million)
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12 / 30#19. United Arab Emirates
- Exports: $783.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($207.0 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($154.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($143.3 million)
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13 / 30#18. Taiwan
- Exports: $807.3 million
- Largest exports:
--- Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. ($191.6 million)
--- Cereals ($118.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($84.8 million)
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14 / 30#17. Malaysia
- Exports: $833.7 million
- Largest exports:
--- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and metals and articles thereof; immitation jewellery; coins ($351.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($111.5 million)
--- Aluminum and articles thereof ($62.9 million)
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15 / 30#16. Belgium
- Exports: $942.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($262.6 million)
--- Copper and articles thereof ($142.2 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($89.7 million)
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16 / 30#15. Chile
- Exports: $976.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($555.6 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($180.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($63.7 million)
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. India
- Exports: $1.1 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($200.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($156.7 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($104.1 million)
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18 / 30#13. Switzerland
- Exports: $1.1 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Pharmaceutical products ($928.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($53.2 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($43.1 million)
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19 / 30#12. France
- Exports: $1.2 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($362.5 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($275.1 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($214.9 million)
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20 / 30#11. South Korea
- Exports: $1.4 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed ($250.5 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($218.8 million)
--- Meat and edible meat offal ($146.5 million)
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21 / 30#10. Singapore
- Exports: $1.7 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($541.5 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($472.5 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($109.3 million)
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22 / 30#9. Australia
- Exports: $1.8 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($505.7 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($494.8 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($110.7 million)
Yasonya // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. Netherlands
- Exports: $2.0 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($596.5 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($328.1 million)
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($273.1 million)
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24 / 30#7. Japan
- Exports: $2.6 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Pharmaceutical products ($665.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($379.8 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($273.8 million)
Nataliya Hora // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. United Kingdom
- Exports: $2.7 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($459.1 million)
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($456.4 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($318.6 million)
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26 / 30#5. Brazil
- Exports: $2.7 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($884.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($431.9 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($227.2 million)
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27 / 30#4. China
- Exports: $3.2 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($592.1 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($341.8 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($340.1 million)
NaughtyNut // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Germany
- Exports: $3.4 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($698.2 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($549.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($445.2 million)
Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Mexico
- Exports: $7.1 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($937.3 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($763.3 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($564.0 million)
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30 / 30#1. Canada
- Exports: $10.1 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($942.9 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($783.0 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($746.6 million)
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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