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 South Carolina imports the most goods, using data from the Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest value of imports in 2024 with South Carolina.
Read on to find out which countries you can expect to find the most imported goods from at your local store.
You may also like: Hottest Novembers in South Carolina since 1895
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Portugal
- Imports: $318.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($154.5 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($46.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($32.3 million)
Olena Tur // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. Turkey
- Imports: $369.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($200.5 million)
--- Carpets and other textile floor coverings ($39.1 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($19.4 million)
aleksander hunta // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Cambodia
- Imports: $378.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($74.9 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($68.4 million)
--- Apparel articles and accessories, knit or crochet ($65.5 million)
Viacheslav Lopatin // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Russia
- Imports: $422.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($398.2 million)
--- Fertilizers ($23.0 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($283,897)
trezordia // Shutterstock
5 / 30#26. Sweden
- Imports: $455.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($127.9 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($78.5 million)
--- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and metals and articles thereof; immitation jewellery; coins ($53.1 million)
You may also like: See the most extreme temperatures in South Carolina history
4kclips // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. Ireland
- Imports: $468.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($248.0 million)
--- Dairy prods; birds eggs; honey; other edible animal products ($102.5 million)
--- Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations ($67.4 million)
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
7 / 30#24. Spain
- Imports: $535.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($96.5 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($92.5 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($55.3 million)
S-F // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Belgium
- Imports: $573.9 million
- Largest imports:
--- Prepared vegetables, fruit, nuts or other plant parts ($131.5 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($121.8 million)
--- Photographic or cinematographic goods ($80.4 million)
ZGPhotography // Shutterstock
9 / 30#22. Hungary
- Imports: $584.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($327.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($108.5 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($59.2 million)
Augustin Lazaroiu // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. Romania
- Imports: $587.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($289.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($98.6 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($89.1 million)
You may also like: Cities with the most UFO sightings in South Carolina
DaLiu // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Czech Republic
- Imports: $667.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($249.9 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($119.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($94.1 million)
Creativa Images // Shutterstock
12 / 30#19. Indonesia
- Imports: $730.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($261.6 million)
--- Footwear, gaiters etc. and parts ($146.7 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($57.0 million)
Yasonya // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Netherlands
- Imports: $827.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($385.8 million)
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($122.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($66.2 million)
Nahlik // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Poland
- Imports: $884.9 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($371.5 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($179.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($110.2 million)
Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Brazil
- Imports: $932.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Coffee, tea, mate and spices ($206.5 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($157.9 million)
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($127.5 million)
You may also like: Best public colleges in South Carolina
Sean Hsu // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Taiwan
- Imports: $1.0 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($285.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($255.7 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($97.2 million)
AlexAnton // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Italy
- Imports: $1.1 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($518.2 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($93.3 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($69.5 million)
Jack Bkk // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Thailand
- Imports: $1.1 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($444.3 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($216.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($167.8 million)
Kampon // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. South Korea
- Imports: $1.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Organic chemicals ($308.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($176.0 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($136.4 million)
Stockbym // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Japan
- Imports: $1.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($716.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($168.6 million)
--- Organic chemicals ($76.9 million)
You may also like: Hottest Octobers in South Carolina since 1895
MEDIAIMAG // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Austria
- Imports: $1.5 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.2 billion)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($104.0 million)
--- Iron and steel ($93.1 million)
Patrick Foto // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Malaysia
- Imports: $1.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($1.3 billion)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($181.8 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($33.3 million)
Tupungato // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. France
- Imports: $1.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($610.0 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($235.4 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($133.2 million)
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
24 / 30#7. India
- Imports: $2.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($507.2 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($336.3 million)
--- Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags ($205.8 million)
Nataliya Hora // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. United Kingdom
- Imports: $2.4 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Inorganic chemicals; precious and rare earth metals and radioactive compounds ($848.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($742.5 million)
--- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and metals and articles thereof; immitation jewellery; coins ($138.1 million)
You may also like: How South Carolina's unbanked population compares to the rest of the US
Efired // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Vietnam
- Imports: $3.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($1.0 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($786.9 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($267.6 million)
Firefighter Montreal // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Canada
- Imports: $3.5 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($415.5 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($332.1 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($322.9 million)
Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Mexico
- Imports: $5.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($2.2 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($1.1 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($902.9 million)
NaughtyNut // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Germany
- Imports: $8.0 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($2.3 billion)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($1.9 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($1.0 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. China
- Imports: $9.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($2.5 billion)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.9 billion)
--- Toys, games and sport equipment; parts and accessories ($689.3 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.
You may also like: Average South Carolina mortgage debt increased to $207,099 in 2024
