Ever looked at a shipping container and wondered where it’s actually going? Most people assume "made in America" ends up in China or maybe Europe. It's more complicated than that. Honestly, the way the US moves its goods across the planet has shifted so much recently that the old textbooks are basically paperweights. If you're tracking us export by country to understand the global economy, you've got to look past the surface-level headlines about trade wars.
The real story is about neighbors, high-tech chips, and a massive amount of oil.
The Big Three: Canada, Mexico, and the China Shift
For a long time, the hierarchy was simple. But by late 2025, the order of operations became a bit chaotic.
Canada and Mexico are currently the heavyweights. It’s not even close. In October 2025 alone, the US sent about $29.2 billion in goods to Canada and $29.6 billion to Mexico. That’s nearly 30% of everything the US exports going to just two countries. Why? Proximity. The USMCA (that’s the trade deal that replaced NAFTA) makes moving stuff across the border way easier than sailing it across the Pacific.
China is the wildcard here. It used to be the undisputed giant, but things have cooled off significantly. While it remains a top-three partner, the share is shrinking. In 2024, China took in about $147 billion in American goods, but fast-forward to the end of 2025, and agriculture exports—specifically soybeans—have taken a massive hit. To be precise, agricultural exports to China dropped by over 55% between 2022 and 2025. When China stops buying American beans, the whole Midwest feels it.
Where the Money Actually Goes
When we talk about us export by country, it helps to see the monthly snapshots from late 2025. These aren't just numbers; they are the pulse of global demand.
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- Mexico: $29.6 billion (The top destination for refined petroleum and auto parts).
- Canada: $29.2 billion (Massive for aerospace and machinery).
- Switzerland: $12.7 billion (Mostly gold and pharmaceutical products).
- United Kingdom: $11.7 billion (Huge growth lately, up over 50% year-over-year).
- China: $9.0 billion (Still big, but fading fast in the ranking).
Europe’s Surprising Resilience
You’d think with all the talk about "nearshoring" to Mexico, Europe would be an afterthought. Wrong. The European Union as a whole remains a massive sink for American tech and energy.
The UK and the Netherlands are standout stars. The US actually runs a trade surplus with the Netherlands—meaning we sell more to them than we buy. In the third quarter of 2025, that surplus was a whopping $20.6 billion. They are the gateway to the rest of the continent. If you're shipping medical equipment or "industrial supplies," there's a good chance it’s landing in Rotterdam.
Switzerland is another weird one. It jumped up the rankings recently. Why? Gold. In October 2025, nonmonetary gold exports shot up by $6.8 billion. Switzerland is where the world hides its wealth and refines its precious metals, so when the global economy feels shaky, US gold exports to the Swiss skyrocket.
What Are We Actually Selling?
It isn't just iPhones and Hollywood movies.
Actually, the US is essentially a massive gas station and pharmacy for the rest of the world. The leading exports lately have been crude petroleum, refined petroleum, and petroleum gas. We are talking hundreds of billions of dollars. Behind the energy sector, you’ve got civilian aircraft (Boeing, despite its headaches, still moves the needle) and pharmaceutical preparations.
Interestingly, "Advanced Technology Products" are a major subset of the us export by country data. We are talking about the high-end stuff: aerospace components, biotech, and semiconductors. Even though we import a lot of electronics from Taiwan, we export the machines and the "brainpower" (intellectual property) used to make them.
The Indo-Pacific: Beyond the Headlines
Vietnam and Taiwan are the ones to watch.
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Vietnam has become a massive hub for US imports, but our exports there are growing too, especially in the education and aviation sectors. Taiwan is a different story. They are a key partner for U.S. semiconductors. Even with the geopolitical tension, the trade of high-tech equipment between the US and Taiwan is a multi-billion-dollar pillar that doesn't show signs of slowing down.
Why the Trade Deficit Matters (and Why It Doesn't)
You’ll always hear politicians complaining about the trade deficit. In late 2025, the goods and services deficit was sitting around $29.4 billion for the month of October.
Here is the nuance most people miss: a deficit doesn't mean we're "losing." It often means American consumers have enough money to buy a lot of stuff from everywhere else. However, when you look at us export by country, you see where American industry is actually competitive. We have surpluses with countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil. We sell them the heavy machinery and the software they need to build their own economies.
What's Next for 2026?
Expect things to get even more "regional."
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With more tariffs likely on the horizon and a scheduled review of the USMCA in July 2026, the reliance on Canada and Mexico is only going to tighten. If you're a business owner or an investor, the "long-distance" trade with Asia is becoming riskier and more expensive. The smart money is moving toward "friend-shoring"—trading with countries that are politically aligned with the US.
Actionable Insights for Tracking Trade Data
- Monitor the Census Bureau: They release the "FT-900" report every month. It’s the gold standard for seeing which countries are buying what.
- Watch Energy Prices: Since petroleum is a top export, a spike in oil prices can make US export numbers look huge, even if the actual volume of goods hasn't changed.
- Diversify Beyond China: If you're in the export business, the data shows that the UK, Netherlands, and India are the growth markets for 2026.
- Keep an eye on the USMCA review: The July 2026 talks could change the rules for the automotive and agriculture sectors, which are the backbone of North American trade.
The map of American trade is being redrawn in real-time. It’s less about one global marketplace now and more about specific, high-value clusters. Whether it's Texas oil going to Mexico or New York financial services going to London, the "where" matters just as much as the "what."