Biggest exports from California
Biggest exports from California
Significant drops in transport and travel due to coronavirus drove American exports in 2020 down 15.7% to their lowest levels since 2010, according to Commerce Department data released Feb. 5, 2021. The pandemic threw a monkey wrench into supply chains while flattening demand, all in the midst of significant tariffs imposed by the United States on China and the European Union.
The trade gap grew from $576.9 billion in 2019 to $678.7 billion in 2020. Meanwhile, China reestablished its standing as the top U.S. trade partner after being third in 2019 behind Mexico and Canada.
To see where exports stood just prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Stacker compiled a list of the biggest exports from California using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Commodities are ranked by the highest value of exports in 2019 from California.
The U.S. in 2019 shipped $1.6 trillion in goods internationally, a -1.2% decline from 2018 but 9.5% higher since 2015. Keep reading to find out what some of the biggest exports from California were in 2019.
#30. Special classification provisions, nesoi
- Exports: $872.2 million (0.5% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($136.6 million), Japan ($92.7 million), United Kingdom ($56.5 million)
- Imports: $9.2 billion (0.2% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Mexico ($1.4 billion), China ($1.1 billion), Canada ($768.5 million)
- Trade balance: $8.3 billion trade deficit
#29. Organic chemicals
- Exports: $900.1 million (0.5% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: France ($172.8 million), China ($94.9 million), Taiwan ($85.8 million)
- Imports: $1.7 billion (0.2% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($894.3 million), Japan ($137.3 million), Canada ($132.8 million)
- Trade balance: $818.0 million trade deficit
#28. Meat and edible meat offal
- Exports: $983.3 million (0.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Korea, South ($185.4 million), Mexico ($179.1 million), Hong Kong ($168.1 million)
- Imports: $2.7 billion (0.2% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Mexico ($872.0 million), Australia ($641.9 million), Canada ($582.6 million)
- Trade balance: $1.8 billion trade deficit
#27. Inorg chem; prec & rare-earth met & radioact compd
- Exports: $999.9 million (0.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: China ($292.4 million), Korea, South ($104.2 million), Mexico ($102.7 million)
- Imports: $1.4 billion (0.2% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Japan ($932.3 million), China ($119.5 million), Canada ($85.8 million)
- Trade balance: $421.0 million trade deficit
#26. Wood pulp etc; recovd (waste & scrap) ppr & pprbd
- Exports: $1.1 billion (0.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: China ($617.9 million), Taiwan ($79.5 million), Vietnam ($77.8 million)
- Imports: $42.3 million (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Canada ($39.1 million), Chile ($1.5 million), Mexico ($1.4 million)
- Trade balance: $1.0 billion trade surplus
#25. Prep vegetables, fruit, nuts or other plant parts
- Exports: $1.1 billion (0.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($362.0 million), Mexico ($116.7 million), Japan ($108.0 million)
- Imports: $1.6 billion (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Thailand ($236.3 million), China ($226.8 million), Mexico ($194.1 million)
- Trade balance: $515.0 million trade deficit
#24. Furniture; bedding etc; lamps nesoi etc; prefab bd
- Exports: $1.1 billion (0.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($326.0 million), Canada ($300.8 million), Korea, South ($77.6 million)
- Imports: $13.6 billion (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($7.7 billion), Vietnam ($2.1 billion), Mexico ($1.1 billion)
- Trade balance: $12.5 billion trade deficit
#23. Toys, games & sport equipment; parts & accessories
- Exports: $1.1 billion (0.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($263.8 million), Mexico ($247.7 million), Japan ($122.4 million)
- Imports: $8.4 billion (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($6.8 billion), Vietnam ($277.8 million), Mexico ($267.3 million)
- Trade balance: $7.3 billion trade deficit
#22. Apparel articles and accessories, knit or crochet
- Exports: $1.1 billion (0.7% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($413.0 million), Nicaragua ($194.8 million), Canada ($141.6 million)
- Imports: $12.2 billion (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($5.4 billion), Vietnam ($2.3 billion), Indonesia ($684.1 million)
- Trade balance: $11.1 billion trade deficit
#21. Oil seeds etc.; misc grain, seed, fruit, plant etc
- Exports: $1.3 billion (0.8% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Japan ($212.1 million), China ($187.2 million), Mexico ($164.6 million)
- Imports: $602.9 million (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Netherlands ($80.3 million), China ($74.8 million), Mexico ($47.9 million)
- Trade balance: $745.9 million trade surplus
#20. Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques
- Exports: $1.4 billion (0.8% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: United Kingdom ($395.9 million), Hong Kong ($173.1 million), Switzerland ($154.0 million)
- Imports: $1.6 billion (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: United Kingdom ($368.3 million), France ($367.2 million), Turkey ($221.1 million)
- Trade balance: $159.0 million trade deficit
#19. Dairy prods; birds eggs; honey; ed animal pr nesoi
- Exports: $1.4 billion (0.8% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($301.1 million), Philippines ($166.4 million), Indonesia ($122.8 million)
- Imports: $279.1 million (0.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: New Zealand ($72.9 million), Mexico ($37.8 million), France ($22.3 million)
- Trade balance: $1.1 billion trade surplus
#18. Edible vegetables & certain roots & tubers
- Exports: $1.5 billion (0.9% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($998.5 million), Mexico ($174.4 million), Japan ($100.5 million)
- Imports: $2.3 billion (0.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Mexico ($1.7 billion), Canada ($157.9 million), China ($123.4 million)
- Trade balance: $737.6 million trade deficit
#17. Articles of iron or steel
- Exports: $1.7 billion (1.0% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($722.9 million), Canada ($191.1 million), China ($91.8 million)
- Imports: $5.0 billion (0.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($2.2 billion), Taiwan ($549.7 million), Mexico ($504.8 million)
- Trade balance: $3.3 billion trade deficit
#16. Beverages, spirits and vinegar
- Exports: $1.7 billion (1.0% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($466.2 million), United Kingdom ($229.5 million), Japan ($150.3 million)
- Imports: $4.3 billion (0.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: France ($841.8 million), Italy ($425.7 million), Mexico ($420.4 million)
- Trade balance: $2.6 billion trade deficit
#15. Essential oils etc; perfumery, cosmetic etc preps
- Exports: $1.8 billion (1.0% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($255.4 million), United Kingdom ($163.3 million), Netherlands ($129.5 million)
- Imports: $1.4 billion (0.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($475.0 million), Korea, South ($204.4 million), Canada ($108.3 million)
- Trade balance: $385.7 million trade surplus
#14. Aluminum and articles thereof
- Exports: $1.8 billion (1.0% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($719.5 million), Korea, South ($264.1 million), China ($182.6 million)
- Imports: $2.3 billion (0.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($559.9 million), United Arab Emirates ($253.0 million), Mexico ($182.3 million)
- Trade balance: $459.3 million trade deficit
#13. Iron and steel
- Exports: $1.9 billion (1.1% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Taiwan ($481.3 million), Mexico ($284.3 million), Korea, South ($261.4 million)
- Imports: $1.5 billion (0.5% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Brazil ($422.0 million), Korea, South ($301.4 million), Taiwan ($139.7 million)
- Trade balance: $351.0 million trade surplus
#12. Miscellaneous edible preparations
- Exports: $2.1 billion (1.2% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($420.4 million), Korea, South ($324.8 million), Canada ($241.5 million)
- Imports: $1.1 billion (0.5% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($164.4 million), Thailand ($148.8 million), Mexico ($130.4 million)
- Trade balance: $982.2 million trade surplus
#11. Miscellaneous chemical products
- Exports: $3.4 billion (2.0% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: China ($554.6 million), Germany ($307.5 million), Netherlands ($272.7 million)
- Imports: $2.1 billion (0.8% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Singapore ($541.4 million), China ($347.3 million), Japan ($342.7 million)
- Trade balance: $1.3 billion trade surplus
#10. Pharmaceutical products
- Exports: $4.2 billion (2.4% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Switzerland ($761.4 million), Belgium ($476.2 million), Germany ($473.3 million)
- Imports: $2.5 billion (1.0% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Ireland ($657.6 million), Singapore ($313.9 million), China ($304.6 million)
- Trade balance: $1.7 billion trade surplus
#9. Plastics and articles thereof
- Exports: $4.5 billion (2.6% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($2.3 billion), Canada ($306.0 million), China ($278.2 million)
- Imports: $8.7 billion (1.1% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($4.3 billion), Mexico ($935.0 million), Taiwan ($631.8 million)
- Trade balance: $4.2 billion trade deficit
#8. Mineral fuel, oil etc.; bitumin subst; mineral wax
- Exports: $5.6 billion (3.2% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($1.3 billion), Ecuador ($568.8 million), Japan ($506.3 million)
- Imports: $27.6 billion (1.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Saudi Arabia ($5.2 billion), Ecuador ($3.7 billion), Iraq ($3.4 billion)
- Trade balance: $22.1 billion trade deficit
#7. Nat etc pearls, prec etc stones, pr met etc; coin
- Exports: $8.2 billion (4.7% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: India ($3.0 billion), Hong Kong ($1.3 billion), Germany ($716.6 million)
- Imports: $3.7 billion (2.0% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Germany ($449.4 million), China ($379.0 million), India ($362.7 million)
- Trade balance: $4.5 billion trade surplus
#6. Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
- Exports: $9.5 billion (5.5% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Japan ($1.4 billion), Taiwan ($854.6 million), Australia ($731.3 million)
- Imports: $2.3 billion (2.3% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: France ($1.2 billion), United Kingdom ($297.3 million), Mexico ($180.2 million)
- Trade balance: $7.2 billion trade surplus
#5. Edible fruit & nuts; citrus fruit or melon peel
- Exports: $11.0 billion (6.3% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Canada ($1.5 billion), India ($824.0 million), Spain ($788.8 million)
- Imports: $6.9 billion (2.7% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Mexico ($4.0 billion), Chile ($795.9 million), Peru ($501.2 million)
- Trade balance: $4.2 billion trade surplus
#4. Vehicles, except railway or tramway, and parts etc
- Exports: $14.5 billion (8.3% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Belgium ($3.7 billion), China ($2.6 billion), Mexico ($2.4 billion)
- Imports: $56.6 billion (3.5% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Canada ($16.8 billion), Mexico ($12.4 billion), Japan ($7.0 billion)
- Trade balance: $42.1 billion trade deficit
#3. Optic, photo etc, medic or surgical instrments etc
- Exports: $17.8 billion (10.2% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: China ($2.3 billion), Netherlands ($1.9 billion), Mexico ($1.7 billion)
- Imports: $16.0 billion (4.4% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: Mexico ($4.0 billion), China ($2.7 billion), Japan ($1.6 billion)
- Trade balance: $1.8 billion trade surplus
#2. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts
- Exports: $24.7 billion (14.2% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($3.9 billion), China ($3.0 billion), Canada ($2.9 billion)
- Imports: $63.7 billion (6.0% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($28.1 billion), Taiwan ($6.5 billion), Japan ($6.0 billion)
- Trade balance: $39.0 billion trade deficit
#1. Electric machinery etc; sound equip; tv equip; pts
- Exports: $28.7 billion (16.5% of exports)
--- Countries export most to: Mexico ($6.4 billion), Hong Kong ($3.8 billion), Canada ($3.1 billion)
- Imports: $81.6 billion (7.0% of imports)
--- Countries import most from: China ($39.7 billion), Malaysia ($8.7 billion), Mexico ($7.7 billion)
- Trade balance: $52.9 billion trade deficit
