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 Virginia imports the most goods, using data from the Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the highest value of imports in 2024 with Virginia.
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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Joseph Oropel // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Philippines
- Imports: $238.7 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($125.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($41.3 million)
--- Miscellaneous articles of base metal ($18.9 million)
Nahlik // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. Poland
- Imports: $255.5 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($78.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($50.0 million)
--- Articles of iron or steel ($31.6 million)
Saqib Rizvi // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Pakistan
- Imports: $271.2 million
- Largest imports:
--- Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags ($138.4 million)
--- Apparel articles and accessories, knit or crochet ($44.0 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($32.4 million)
4kclips // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Ireland
- Imports: $272.5 million
- Largest imports:
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($128.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($59.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($44.9 million)
M. Vinuesa // Shutterstock
5 / 30Romrodphoto // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. United Arab Emirates
- Imports: $284.0 million
- Largest imports:
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($168.7 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($38.1 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($29.1 million)
Iurii Dzivinskyi // Shutterstock
7 / 30#24. Switzerland
- Imports: $328.9 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($74.6 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($72.7 million)
--- Tools, cutlery etc. of base metal and parts thereof ($49.7 million)
trezordia // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Sweden
- Imports: $352.8 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($167.0 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($56.4 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($24.9 million)
John Theodor // Shutterstock
9 / 30#22. Israel
- Imports: $354.3 million
- Largest imports:
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($132.6 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($71.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($65.7 million)
Olena Tur // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. Turkey
- Imports: $431.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($62.0 million)
--- Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes ($51.4 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($35.6 million)
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Sean Hsu // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Singapore
- Imports: $441.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($261.9 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($106.0 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($41.8 million)
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
12 / 30#19. Spain
- Imports: $519.1 million
- Largest imports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($101.4 million)
--- Animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes ($65.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($63.8 million)
Yasonya // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Netherlands
- Imports: $530.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($164.6 million)
--- Miscellaneous edible preparations ($58.3 million)
--- Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, paper or paperboard ($39.3 million)
Creativa Images // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Indonesia
- Imports: $590.7 million
- Largest imports:
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($86.1 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($85.8 million)
--- Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates ($67.9 million)
Catarina Belova // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Brazil
- Imports: $623.1 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($109.8 million)
--- Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes ($65.7 million)
--- Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. ($56.7 million)
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MEDIAIMAG // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Austria
- Imports: $681.9 million
- Largest imports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($335.1 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($153.0 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($38.1 million)
Jack Bkk // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Thailand
- Imports: $828.4 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($249.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($146.3 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($129.0 million)
Sean Hsu // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. Taiwan
- Imports: $871.6 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($351.4 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($204.2 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($60.7 million)
Kampon // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. South Korea
- Imports: $927.2 million
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($276.3 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($175.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($106.9 million)
Tupungato // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. France
- Imports: $1.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($412.3 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($143.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($142.9 million)
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AlexAnton // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Italy
- Imports: $1.3 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($295.2 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($218.7 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($185.0 million)
Efired // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Vietnam
- Imports: $1.8 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($403.0 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($309.6 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($201.1 million)
Kriangkrai Thitimakorn // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. India
- Imports: $1.9 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Pharmaceutical products ($208.8 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($190.3 million)
--- Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags ($188.2 million)
Patrick Foto // Shutterstock
24 / 30#7. Malaysia
- Imports: $2.0 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.6 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($255.2 million)
--- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, luminaries, light fixtures, prefabricated buildings ($35.1 million)
Stockbym // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. Japan
- Imports: $2.0 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($857.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($627.7 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($94.6 million)
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Nataliya Hora // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. United Kingdom
- Imports: $2.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($659.8 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($501.0 million)
--- Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included ($382.8 million)
NaughtyNut // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Germany
- Imports: $2.8 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($1.0 billion)
--- Articles of iron or steel ($341.6 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($300.6 million)
Firefighter Montreal // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. Canada
- Imports: $3.2 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($551.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($435.4 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($179.1 million)
Aleksandar Todorovic // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Mexico
- Imports: $3.8 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($2.0 billion)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($496.5 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($365.1 million)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
30 / 30#1. China
- Imports: $5.7 billion
- Largest imports:
--- Toys, games and sport equipment; parts and accessories ($812.3 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($771.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($751.6 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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