Every State’s Top Import and Export Mapped

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In just half a decade, US trading has been shaken by, amongst other things, political upheaval and the Covid-19 pandemic. The latter affected everyone on the planet – but hit some economies, supply chains, and US states harder than others. In such conditions, firms must decide how best to weather the storm — for example, choosing between a hedging or salvaging strategy.

OnDeck recognizes that small businesses must play to their strengths and utilize the advantages that come with their locality, whatever the conditions. In this new study, OnDeck used recently released data from the US Census Bureau to identify the top import and export in every US state, as well as their ‘most unique import/export’ — the one that’s traded by the fewest other states.

Methodology

The data for each US state is based on official US international trade data for 2020. OnDeck cleaned the data by renaming the complex trade descriptions into simpler terms.

The top import and export products for each state were identified by (1) ranking them based on monetary value, (2) ordering the data in descending order, and (3) selecting the top entry for each state.

The most unique import and export products per state were identified by (1) counting how many times a product was cited/listed across states, (2) grouping the data per state and ordering the data in ascending order, and (3) selecting the top entry per state.

For the ring charts, the percentage of each product was calculated by dividing the number of states with the product listed as their top export/import per the number of states.

The data was collected in January 2022.

United States Imports

As the most valuable import in 12 of 50 U.S. states, petroleum leads the way with 24%. Besides regular consumer use, petroleum fuels or manufacture of these states’ top exports – from coal and gold mining to the most common top export, aircraft.

The Top Import in Every U.S. State

Petroleum is the most common top import in 12 states, despite U.S. petroleum imports dipping to a 29-year low in 2020. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. imports 7.9 million barrels of petroleum per day. Much of it is then refined to re-export as gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, and jet fuel.

The next most common imports are medicine and vehicles (6 states each). Vaccines and antibodies are the top imports into Wisconsin, Kentucky, and North Carolina – a trend that stretches back past the start of Covid-19.

The Most Unique Import in Every U.S. State

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas imports $1.9 billion worth of Human Blood per year? It is illegal to import plasma in bags, so Texas has been a significant gateway for cross-border paid donors from Mexico. Chocolate, diamonds, and fans are among the most unique imports to just one state. Alloy steel, hormones, and lobster are among the most unique in two U.S. states, and none are most unique in three or more.

United States Exports

Aircraft are the most valuable export in 14 U.S. states, at 28%. According to the Aerospace Industries Association, Aerospace and Defense exports to Germany, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan alone amounted to $36.1 billion.

The ‘Petroleum in/Aircraft out’ trend in U.S. import-exports will change radically over the following decades. The major U.S. airlines have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by switching to nontraditional fuels made from plant oils, municipal waste, and other sources.

The Top Export in Every U.S. State

Aircraft are the most common top export in 14 U.S. states. According to the Aerospace Industries Association, profits of U.S. aerospace and defense industry exports halved from $79.3 billion to $40.6 billion in 2020.

According to Forbes, vaccines have become America’s 5th most valuable export, after aircraft, gasoline, natural gas, and oil. However, only North Carolina can count vaccines and antibodies as its top export. North Carolina is home to a 262-acre vaccine production plant owned by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co.

The Most Unique Exports in Every U.S. State

Many of each state’s unique exports conjure the flavor of their state. Nevada’s top unique export is Goin Games, Maine’s is lobster, and Michigan’s is Rear-view Mirrors. New York’s most unique export is a sculpture. Before the pandemic, Sculpture was America’s 197th biggest export. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, the U.S. was the world’s top exporter of sculptures, shipping $1.3 billion worth in 2019.

Key Findings

• Petroleum is the top import into 12 states, making it the most common leading import.
• Aircraft are the most common top export, leading in 14 states.
• New York imports $21.9 billion worth of precious metals each year, the biggest import for any state.
• Texas has the biggest export commodity of any state, shipping $43.5 billion of fuel.