Politics
Mapped: The Top Trading Partner of Every U.S. State
The Top Trading Partner of Every U.S. State
The U.S. is highly dependent—perhaps unsurprisingly—on Canada and Mexico for trade. The country’s top trading partner is Mexico, making up 14.8% of total trade.
However, the country’s neighbors to the north and south are not the only trade partners that U.S. states rely heavily upon. This map from HowMuch.net uses flags to show which country each U.S. state is importing the most from. Below, there is an additional graphic showing where each state is exporting the highest amount of goods and services to.
Who are the States Importing From?
The U.S. has a few natural and obvious trading partners, whether due to geographical closeness or strong economic ties.
The obvious candidates for top trading partners have already been mentioned, Canada and Mexico—and these two do show up at the state level as well. For example, Michigan gets 40.9% of its imports from Mexico, and Montana receives a whopping 87% of its imports from Canada.
Some other interesting trade partnerships stand out, like the Carolinas and Germany. Trade ties between Hawaii and Japan also make sense for historic reasons.
State | Top Country | Total State Import (Millions USD) | Share of Total State Imports |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $4,161 | 16.3% |
Alaska | 🇰🇷 South Korea | $836 | 35.0% |
Arizona | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $8,978 | 35.0% |
Arkansas | 🇨🇳 China | $3,160 | 36.6% |
California | 🇨🇳 China | $130,291 | 32.9% |
Colorado | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,928 | 24.3% |
Connecticut | 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,031 | 22.4% |
Delaware | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $1,927 | 21.1% |
District of Columbia | 🇨🇦 Canada | $74 | 13.7% |
Florida | 🇨🇳 China | $11,212 | 14.7% |
Georgia | 🇨🇳 China | $20,194 | 20.4% |
Hawaii | 🇯🇵 Japan | $291 | 15.1% |
Idaho | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,195 | 21.7% |
Illinois | 🇨🇳 China | $48,324 | 31.0% |
Indiana | 🇮🇪 Ireland | $11,558 | 18.1% |
Iowa | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,387 | 26.6% |
Kansas | 🇨🇳 China | $2,064 | 19.7% |
Kentucky | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $6,882 | 12.5% |
Louisiana | 🇷🇺 Russia | $2,611 | 12.6% |
Maine | 🇨🇦 Canada | $3,167 | 66.6% |
Maryland | 🇩🇪 Germany | $3,993 | 13.0% |
Massachusetts | 🇨🇦 Canada | $7,779 | 22.2% |
Michigan | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $47,473 | 40.9% |
Minnesota | 🇨🇳 China | $7,577 | 26.9% |
Mississippi | 🇨🇳 China | $3,938 | 24.9% |
Missouri | 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,500 | 24.0% |
Montana | 🇨🇦 Canada | $3,442 | 87.0% |
Nebraska | 🇨🇦 Canada | $876 | 23.5% |
Nevada | 🇨🇳 China | $4,108 | 31.8% |
New Hampshire | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,394 | 20.1% |
New Jersey | 🇨🇳 China | $14,302 | 12.4% |
New Mexico | 🇨🇳 China | $1,493 | 32.6% |
New York | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $33,126 | 21.5% |
North Carolina | 🇩🇪 Germany | $9,208 | 15.1% |
North Dakota | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,781 | 62.3% |
Ohio | 🇨🇦 Canada | $10,624 | 16.2% |
Oklahoma | 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,355 | 40.2% |
Oregon | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,951 | 17.0% |
Pennsylvania | 🇨🇳 China | $13,470 | 15.9% |
Puerto Rico | 🇮🇪 Ireland | $9,062 | 42.7% |
Rhode Island | 🇩🇪 Germany | $1,525 | 17.3% |
South Carolina | 🇩🇪 Germany | $6,220 | 15.5% |
South Dakota | 🇨🇦 Canada | $428 | 33.9% |
Tennessee | 🇨🇳 China | $20,305 | 24.3% |
Texas | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $88,726 | 35.8% |
Utah | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $4,294 | 27.6% |
Vermont | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,677 | 63.5% |
Virginia | 🇨🇳 China | $6,566 | 22.7% |
Virgin Islands | 🇵🇹 Portugal | $174 | 27.7% |
Washington | 🇨🇦 Canada | $12,772 | 26.1% |
West Virginia | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,025 | 35.2% |
Wisconsin | 🇨🇳 China | $5,554 | 20.7% |
Wyoming | 🇨🇦 Canada | $695 | 63.7% |
However, one country in particular stands out on this map—China.
While the USMCA trade agreement has created an easy gateway for necessary goods and services to flow across North America, no country—not even the U.S.—can escape the need for mass imports from the world’s top exporter.
China and the U.S. have an imbalanced trade relationship, with China buying much fewer goods from the U.S. than the U.S. buys from them. In fact, China’s monthly trade surplus with the country sat at $31.8 billion as of May 2021.
Who are the States Exporting to?
After looking at the top import partners by state, let’s dive in to where the U.S. states are exporting the most.
One thing that is noticeable is that China shows up much less on this map, further exemplifying the trade imbalance. In other words, while many states’ top import partner is China, they are not reciprocating as the country’s top export partner.
The only states that export their largest shares to China are:
- Oregon – 38.1%
- Alaska – 25.5%
- Washington – 22.1%
- Alabama – 18.1%
- Louisiana – 18.1%
The majority are exporting to their North American neighbors. For example, North Dakota sends 84.6% of its exports just across the northern border.
State | Top Country | Total State Export (Millions USD) | Share of total State Exports |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 🇨🇳 China | $3,102 | 18.1% |
Alaska | 🇨🇳 China | $1,176 | 25.5% |
Arizona | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $36 | 35.5% |
Arkansas | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,148 | 22.1% |
California | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $24,078 | 15.4% |
Colorado | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,278 | 15.4% |
Connecticut | 🇩🇪 Germany | $2,189 | 15.9% |
Delaware | 🇨🇦 Canada | $619 | 15.8% |
D.C. | 🇶🇦 Qatar | $899 | 32.4% |
Florida | 🇧🇷 Brazil | $3,538 | 7.7% |
Georgia | 🇨🇦 Canada | $5,146 | 13.3% |
Hawaii | 🇦🇺 Australia | $51 | 15.8% |
Idaho | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,184 | 34.8% |
Illinois | 🇨🇦 Canada | $13,261 | 24.8% |
Indiana | 🇨🇦 Canada | $11,080 | 31.4% |
Iowa | 🇨🇦 Canada | $3,460 | 27.4% |
Kansas | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $2,078 | 20.0% |
Kentucky | 🇨🇦 Canada | $6,550 | 26.5% |
Louisiana | 🇨🇳 China | $10,779 | 18.1% |
Maine | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,229 | 52.8% |
Maryland | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,581 | 12.5% |
Massachusetts | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,746 | 11.0% |
Michigan | 🇨🇦 Canada | $17,341 | 39.4% |
Minnesota | 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,828 | 24.0% |
Mississippi | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,082 | 20.3% |
Missouri | 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,453 | 34.9% |
Montana | 🇨🇦 Canada | $544 | 37.9% |
Nebraska | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $1,639 | 23.5% |
Nevada | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $2,256 | 21.8% |
New Hampshire | 🇩🇪 Germany | $751 | 13.8% |
New Jersey | 🇨🇦 Canada | $7,229 | 19.0% |
New Mexico | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $2,197 | 59.5% |
New York | 🇨🇦 Canada | $13,773 | 22.3% |
North Carolina | 🇨🇦 Canada | $5,881 | 20.7% |
North Dakota | 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,388 | 84.6% |
Ohio | 🇨🇦 Canada | $17,273 | 38.4% |
Oklahoma | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,452 | 27.0% |
Oregon | 🇨🇳 China | $9,522 | 38.1% |
Pennsylvania | 🇨🇦 Canada | $9,699 | 25.9% |
Puerto Rico | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $2,889 | 17.2% |
Rhode Island | 🇨🇦 Canada | $410 | 17.1% |
South Carolina | 🇩🇪 Germany | $4,082 | 13.5% |
South Dakota | 🇨🇦 Canada | $524 | 38.0% |
Tennessee | 🇨🇦 Canada | $5,818 | 20.7% |
Texas | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $89,046 | 31.9% |
Utah | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $8,906 | 50.3% |
Vermont | 🇨🇦 Canada | $918 | 38.3% |
Virginia | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2,717 | 16.5% |
Virgin Islands | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $90 | 15.2% |
Washington | 🇨🇳 China | $9,126 | 22.1% |
West Virginia | 🇨🇦 Canada | $1,283 | 28.1% |
Wisconsin | 🇨🇦 Canada | $6,226 | 30.4% |
Wyoming | 🇨🇦 Canada | $225 | 19.3% |
Trade Going Forward
The trade war that started during the tenure of former U.S. president Donald Trump is still ongoing and tariffs set by the U.S. are not expected to be lifted by president Joe Biden, as tensions have expanded beyond just trade issues.
These tariffs, however, have not helped to rectify the significant trade imbalance between the two countries. The states are still extremely reliant on imports from China, and it is not a reciprocal relationship.
Maps
Visualizing the BRICS Expansion in 4 Charts
We provide a data-driven overview of how the recent BRICS expansion will grow the group’s influence and reach.

Visualizing the BRICS Expansion in 4 Charts
BRICS is an association of five major countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Distinguished by their emerging economies, the group has sought to improve diplomatic coordination, reform global financial institutions, and ultimately serve as a counterbalance to Western hegemony.
On Aug. 24, 2023, BRICS announced that it would formally accept six new members at the start of 2024: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In this graphic, we provide a data-driven overview of how the BRICS expansion will grow the group’s influence and reach.
Share of Global GDP
Because most of the new BRICS members are considered to be developing economies, their addition to the group will not have a major impact on its overall share of GDP.
The following table includes GDP projections for 2023, courtesy of the IMF.
Original BRICS Member | Country | GDP (USD billions) | Share of Global (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | 🇧🇷 Brazil | $2,081 | 2.0% |
Yes | 🇷🇺 Russia | $2,063 | 2.0% |
Yes | 🇮🇳 India | $3,737 | 3.6% |
Yes | 🇨🇳 China | $19,374 | 18.4% |
Yes | 🇿🇦 South Africa | $399 | 0.4% |
No | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $1,062 | 1.0% |
No | 🇮🇷 Iran | $368 | 0.4% |
No | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | $156 | 0.1% |
No | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $387 | 0.4% |
No | 🇦🇷 Argentina | $641 | 0.6% |
No | 🇦🇪 UAE | $499 | 0.5% |
- | BRICS Total | $30,767 | 29.3% |
- | Rest of World | $74,362 | 70.7% |
The original six BRICS members are expected to have a combined GDP of $27.6 trillion in 2023, representing 26.3% of the global total. With the new members included, expected GDP climbs slightly to $30.8 trillion, enough for a 29.3% global share.
Share of Global Population
BRICS has always represented a major chunk of global population thanks to China and India, which are the only countries with over 1 billion people.
The two biggest populations being added to BRICS are Ethiopia (126.5 million) and Egypt (112.7 million). See the following table for population data from World Population Review, which is dated as of 2023.
Original BRICS Member | Country | Population | Share of Global (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 216,422,446 | 2.7% |
Yes | 🇷🇺 Russia | 144,444,359 | 1.8% |
Yes | 🇮🇳 India | 1,428,627,663 | 17.8% |
Yes | 🇨🇳 China | 1,425,671,352 | 17.7% |
Yes | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 60,414,495 | 0.8% |
No | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 36,947,025 | 0.5% |
No | 🇮🇷 Iran | 89,172,767 | 1.1% |
No | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 126,527,060 | 1.6% |
No | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 112,716,598 | 1.4% |
No | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 45,773,884 | 0.6% |
No | 🇦🇪 UAE | 9,516,871 | 0.1% |
- | BRICS Total | 3.7 billion | 46.0% |
- | Rest of World | 4.3 billion | 54.0% |
It’s possible that BRICS could eventually surpass 50% of global population, as many more countries have expressed their desire to join.
Share of Oil Production
Although the world is trying to move away from fossil fuels, the global oil market is still incredibly large—and BRICS is set to play a much bigger role in it. This is mostly due to the admission of Saudi Arabia, which alone accounts for 12.9% of global oil production.
Based on 2022 figures from the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, BRICS’ share of oil production will grow from 20.4% to 43.1%.
Original BRICS Member | Country | Thousand Barrels per Day | Share of Global (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 3,107 | 3.3% |
Yes | 🇷🇺 Russia | 11,202 | 11.9% |
Yes | 🇮🇳 India | 737 | 0.8% |
Yes | 🇨🇳 China | 4,111 | 4.4% |
Yes | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 0 | 0.0% |
No | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 12,136 | 12.9% |
No | 🇮🇷 Iran | 3,822 | 4.1% |
No | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 0 | 0.0% |
No | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 613 | 0.7% |
No | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 706 | 0.8% |
No | 🇦🇪 UAE | 4,020 | 4.3% |
- | BRICS Total | 40,454 | 43.1% |
- | Rest of World | 53,394 | 56.9% |
It’s worth noting that China has been pushing for oil trade to be denominated in yuan, and that Saudi Arabia’s acceptance into BRICS could bolster this ambition, potentially shifting the dynamics of global oil trade.
Share of Global Exports
The last metric included in our graphic is global exports, which is based on 2022 data from the World Trade Organization. We can see that the BRICS expansion will grow the group’s share of global exports (merchandise trade) to 25.1%, up from 20.2%.
Original BRICS Member | Country | Exports (USD billions) | Share of Global (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 334 | 1.3% |
Yes | 🇷🇺 Russia | 532 | 2.1% |
Yes | 🇮🇳 India | 453 | 1.8% |
Yes | 🇨🇳 China | 3,594 | 14.4% |
Yes | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 123 | 0.5% |
No | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 410 | 1.6% |
No | 🇮🇷 Iran | 73 | 0.3% |
No | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 3.9 | 0.02% |
No | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 49 | 0.2% |
No | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 88 | 0.4% |
No | 🇦🇪 UAE | 599 | 2.4% |
- | BRICS Total | 6,259 | 25.1% |
- | Rest of World | 18,646 | 74.9% |
Unsurprisingly, China is the world’s largest exporter. Major exporters that are not a part of BRICS include the U.S. (8.3%), Germany (6.6%), the Netherlands (3.9%), and Japan (3.0%).
Who Else Wants to Join?
According to Reuters, there are over 40 countries that have expressed interest in joining BRICS. A smaller group of 16 countries have actually applied for membership, though, and this list includes Algeria, Cuba, Indonesia, Palestine, and Vietnam.
As the group grows in size, differing opinions and priorities among its members could create tensions in the future. For example, India and China have had numerous border disputes in recent years, while Brazil’s newly elected President has sought to “kickstart a new era of relations” with the U.S.
One thing that is certain, however, is that a new acronym for the group will be needed very soon.
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