Countries around the world depend on imports and exports by air, sea and road routes in order to transport goods through their borders and into other countries. Healthy trade keeps economies booming.

Pretty much everything we have around us, from pens to furniture if not manufactured from the UK will have been transported in from another country, even some items which are manufactured in the UK may have components and parts imported from other countries. The list of products imported and exported is endless, everything from clothes, cars, food, petroleum, electronic products and more.

We take a look at the world’s largest exporters, their products and the busiest ports and shipping routes in each country.

World’s 10 Largest Exporters

China leads the list of the world’s largest exporter. Interestingly, of the top 10 leading exporting countries, 4 are from Asia, 5 from Europe and 1 from North America.

World’s 10 Largest Importers

The United States is the world's largest importer of goods, followed by China and Germany. Overall out of the world's 10 largest importers, 4 countries are in Europe, 4 are in Asia and 1 from North America and 1 from Central America.

The World’s Top 10 Largest Exporters In Detail

CHINA

With the second-largest economy in the World, China is the leader in exports. China exported nearly $3.59 trillion worth of goods in 2022. China’s major exported goods are electronics and other machinery, and major imported goods are electronics, including integrated circuits and other computer components.

China’s Most Exported Products:

• Electrical and other machinery, including computers and telecommunications equipment, apparel

• Furniture

• Textiles

Most Imported Products:

• Electrical and other machinery, including integrated circuits, computer components

• Oil and mineral fuels

• Optical and medical equipment

Busiest Ports:

Out of the top 10 busiest container ports in the world, seven are located in China. Shanghai which is the busiest container port in the world. Shenzhen, which is the 3rd busiest. In 4th position is Ningbo-Zhoushan in Northeast China and in 5th position is the Port of Guangzhou.

Fun Fact About China - DID YOU KNOW…

The mortar that was used to bind the stones in the Great Wall of China, was made of sticky rice.

UNITED STATES

The United States is the world’s largest economy and the world’s second-largest exporter of goods. The top 5 destinations for exports from the United States are: Canada, Mexico, China, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Most Exported Products:

• Capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment)

• Organic chemicals

• Automobiles,

• Medicines

Most Imported Products:

• Industrial supplies

• Automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys

• Computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery

Busiest Ports:

Ports in the United States with the highest volume of goods exported and imported are:

• Los Angeles, California (top imports: furniture, automobile parts.)

• Long Beach, California (top imports: crude oil, electronics.)

• New York and New Jersey (top imports: Petroleum, appliances.)

Fun Fact About The USA - DID YOU KNOW…

Every day 100 acres of Pizza are served in the United States.

GERMANY

Germany is the 3rd largest exporter worldwide, in addition to being the largest economy in Europe and the world’s 4th largest economy. The top 5 trading partners with Germany in 2022 were: China, the United States, the Netherlands, France and Poland.

Most Exported Products:

• Motor vehicles

• Machinery

• Chemicals

Most Imported Products:

• Machinery

• Data processing equipment

• Vehicles

Busiest Ports:

• Hamburg (machinery and equipment, chemicals)

• Bremerhaven (automobiles)

Fun Fact About Germany - DID YOU KNOW…

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is 9 times bigger than Paris and has more bridges than Venice.

NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands is the 4th largest exporter in the world and the countri’s overall economy was the 18th biggest in the world in 2022. The leading destinations for Dutch exports are: Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Most Exported Products

• Machinery and transport equipment

• Chemicals

• Mineral fuels

Most imported products

• Machinery and transport equipment

• Chemicals

• Fuels

Busiest ports

• Rotterdam (top imports: coal, iron ore)

• Amsterdam (top imports: cocoa, iron ore, oil products)

Fun Fact About The Netherlands - DID YOU KNOW…

17% of the present-day landmass of the Netherlands consists of land reclaimed from sea or lakes.

JAPAN

Japan is the 5th largest exporter in the world and the world’s third-largest economy. It also has the world’s third-largest automobile manufacturing and electronics goods industries. The countries to which Japan exported the most goods in 2022 were: China, the United States, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Most Exported Products:

• Motor vehicles

• Iron and Steel products

• Semiconductors

Most Imported Products:

• Petroleum

• Liquid Natural Gas

• Clothing

Busiest Ports:

• Nagoya (top exports: finished vehicles, auto parts)

• Tokyo (top exports: chemicals, machinery)

Fun Fact About Japan - DID YOU KNOW…

Over 90% of all mobile phones sold in Japan are waterproof, as Japanese teenagers use their mobiles even when in the shower.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea is the 6th largest exporter of goods in the world. Its economy is the 13th largest globally and the 5th largest in Asia. Major economic sectors include shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and electronics. South Korea’s top trading partners in terms of exports in 2022 were: China, the United States, Vietnam, Japan and Hong Kong.

Most Exported Products:

• Semiconductors

• Petrochemicals

• Automobile/Auto parts

Most Imported Products:

• Crude oil/Petroleum products

• Semiconductors

• Natural Gas

Busiest Ports:

• Busan (top exports: integrated circuits, cars)

Fun Fact About South Korea - DID YOU KNOW…

South Korea has the fastest Internet speeds in the world, a record it has held for the past 12 years. 100% of South Koreans’ have Broadband access.

ITALY

Italy is the 7th biggest exporter in the world. It has the 4th largest economy in the Eurozone and the 10th largest economy globally. Germany, France, the United States and Spain are the top export destinations for Italian goods.

Most Exported Products

• Engineering products

• Textiles and clothing

• Production machinery

Most imported products

• Engineering products

• Chemicals

• Transport equipment

• Energy products

• Minerals and nonferrous Metals

Busiest ports

• Port of Gioia Tauro (top imports: crude oil)

• Port of Genoa (top imports: steel products)

Fun Fact About Italy- DID YOU KNOW…

There are more people of Italian ancestry living outside of Italy, than in the country itself, with 32 million people in Brazil, 25 million people in Argentina, 17 million people in the United States having Italian ancestry.

BELGIUM

FRANCE

France is the 9th largest exporter and the world’s 7th largest economy. The biggest industries in France are: energy, manufacturing and transport. The top export destinations for products made in France are: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United States.

Most Exported Products

• Machinery and Transportation equipment

• Aircraft

• Plastics

Most imported products

• Machinery and equipment

• Vehicles

• Crude Oil

Busiest ports

• Le Havre (top imports: coal, construction materials, crude oil)

• Marseille - Fos (top imports: crude oil)

Fun Fact About France - DID YOU KNOW…

Louis XIX is the shortest reigning monarch in history. He was the King of France in 1830 for 20 minutes.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong is the 10th biggest exporter in the world. and is the 14th largest economy in Asia. The top export destinations for Hong Kong goods are mainland China, the United States, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Fun Fact About Hong Kong - DID YOU KNOW…

Hong Kong has more tall buildings than anywhere else in the world, with 482 skyscrapers over 150 meters tall.