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 Iowa imports the most goods, using data from the Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest value of imports in 2024 with Iowa.
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. Slovakia
- Imports: $32.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($23.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($4.6 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) ($1.5 million)
trezordia // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. Sweden
- Imports: $33.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($14.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($5.2 million)
--- Albuminoidal substances; modified starches;
glues; enzymes ($4.2 million)
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3 / 30#28. Argentina
- Imports: $34.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Albuminoidal substances; modified starches;
glues; enzymes ($15.1 million)
--- Organic chemicals ($7.1 million)
--- Dairy prods; birds eggs; honey; other edible animal products ($5.3 million)
BlueOrange Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Finland
- Imports: $35.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Albuminoidal substances; modified starches;
glues; enzymes ($9.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($7.1 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($6.3 million)
S-F // Shutterstock
5 / 30#26. Belgium
- Imports: $49.8 million
- Largest imports:
--- Albuminoidal substances; modified starches;
glues; enzymes ($23.8 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($5.2 million)
--- Miscellaneous edible preparations ($3.5 million)
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6 / 30#25. Israel
- Imports: $49.8 million
- Largest imports:
--- Knitted or crocheted fabrics ($27.1 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($10.1 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($2.2 million)
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7 / 30#24. Turkey
- Imports: $51.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($11.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($10.4 million)
--- Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof ($5.1 million)
ZGPhotography // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Hungary
- Imports: $66.1 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($37.5 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($13.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($13.0 million)
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9 / 30#22. Denmark
- Imports: $70.8 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($40.8 million)
--- Milling products; malt; starch; inulin; wheat gluten ($8.5 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($7.5 million)
Kampon // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. South Korea
- Imports: $87.2 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($36.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($23.6 million)
--- Copper and articles thereof ($8.9 million)
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11 / 30#20. Poland
- Imports: $88.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($26.8 million)
--- Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations ($17.0 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($16.5 million)
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12 / 30#19. Malaysia
- Imports: $89.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($73.0 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($5.8 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($2.1 million)
Jose Ignacio Soto // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Morocco
- Imports: $100.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Fertilizers ($98.1 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($2.0 million)
--- Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. ($173,350)
Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Brazil
- Imports: $106.5 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($34.1 million)
--- Albuminoidal substances; modified starches;
glues; enzymes ($32.2 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($12.8 million)
Tupungato // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. France
- Imports: $112.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($26.2 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($17.5 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($14.4 million)
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16 / 30#15. Spain
- Imports: $142.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($61.3 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($26.7 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($19.6 million)
Sean Hsu // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Taiwan
- Imports: $186.8 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($54.0 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($32.2 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($17.7 million)
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18 / 30#13. Thailand
- Imports: $198.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($77.0 million)
--- Copper and articles thereof ($54.4 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($19.2 million)
Iurii Dzivinskyi // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Switzerland
- Imports: $226.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Organic chemicals ($202.6 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($12.8 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($2.1 million)
MEDIAIMAG // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Austria
- Imports: $236.2 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($213.2 million)
--- Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials ($10.5 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($6.8 million)
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21 / 30#10. United Kingdom
- Imports: $246.5 million
- Largest imports:
--- Organic chemicals ($77.2 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($61.2 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($27.4 million)
Stockbym // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Japan
- Imports: $251.1 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($153.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($39.5 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($9.8 million)
Efired // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. Vietnam
- Imports: $277.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($72.4 million)
--- Footwear, gaiters etc. and parts ($45.2 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($35.3 million)
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24 / 30#7. Netherlands
- Imports: $293.8 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($161.2 million)
--- Iron and steel ($103.7 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($7.4 million)
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. India
- Imports: $310.5 million
- Largest imports:
--- Organic chemicals ($63.5 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($59.2 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($28.6 million)
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AlexAnton // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Italy
- Imports: $431.7 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($301.4 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($28.0 million)
--- Articles of iron or steel ($20.7 million)
NaughtyNut // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Germany
- Imports: $997.9 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($419.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($172.2 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($66.4 million)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. China
- Imports: $1.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($280.9 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($227.6 million)
--- Organic chemicals ($219.0 million)
Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Mexico
- Imports: $2.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($1.0 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($682.1 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($177.3 million)
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30 / 30#1. Canada
- Imports: $3.6 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($449.3 million)
--- Aluminum and articles thereof ($372.6 million)
--- Animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes ($286.9 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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