When you think about the American economy, you probably picture Silicon Valley code, Hollywood blockbusters, or maybe a Wall Street trading floor. But if you actually look at the docks in Savannah or the Long Beach port, the reality is much more "heavy metal" and "underground" than you’d expect. Honestly, the answer to what is the us major exports changes almost every season, but right now, it’s a wild mix of high-tech chips and raw liquid energy.
We aren't just a "service economy" anymore.
The US has transformed into a global powerhouse for stuff you can actually touch—and stuff that keeps the lights on in Europe and Asia. If you had to bet on one thing driving the numbers this year, it’s energy. But there’s a lot more to the story, including some massive shifts in how we ship aircraft and farm goods across the sea.
The Liquid Gold Rush: Energy and Mineral Fuels
Believe it or not, the single biggest chunk of what America sends abroad right now is energy. We're talking about mineral fuels, oils, and distillation products.
Basically, the fracking revolution didn't just make the US energy independent; it turned the country into a global gas station. In 2025, the US set a massive record by exporting 111 million metric tons of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). That’s a huge deal because it made the US the first country to ever cross the 100-million-ton threshold in a single year.
Why Energy Dominates the Map
It’s not just about crude oil, though that’s a massive part of it, with export values hovering around the $177 billion mark for 2026. It’s also about refined products—the stuff like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
- Europe’s Lifeline: Since the geopolitical mess in Ukraine started, Europe has been scrambling to replace Russian pipeline gas. US exporters stepped in big time.
- Infrastructure: New terminals like Plaquemines LNG in Louisiana have been cranking out supply at a rate we've never seen before.
- Refined Goods: We don’t just pump oil; we're really good at the chemistry of refining it into usable fuels, which brings in billions more.
If you’re looking for a simple answer to what is the us major exports, "fuel" is your one-word winner. It accounted for over $320 billion in value recently. That’s a lot of zeros.
👉 See also: Sands Casino Long Island: What Actually Happens Next at the Old Coliseum Site
Aerospace and the Boeing Factor
Coming in at a strong second or third—depending on the month—is the aerospace industry. This is where the US really shows off its engineering muscles.
It’s not just whole planes like the 737 MAX or the 787 Dreamliner. A massive portion of this category is actually "parts." Engines, wings, avionics systems, and even landing gear. In 2025, civilian aircraft parts alone made up about 6% of the total export pie, valued at roughly $144 billion.
The Complexity of Selling Planes
Shipping a plane isn't like shipping a t-shirt. There are years-long backlogs. Boeing and Airbus have combined backlogs of over 14,000 aircraft.
While Boeing has had its share of headlines for the wrong reasons lately, their production hit a major milestone in mid-2025, reaching a steady 38 aircraft per month for the first time in years. China, France, and Brazil are the biggest buyers here. If you see a plane landing in Paris or Shanghai, there is a very high chance the "brain" or the "heart" of that machine was built in a factory in Washington or South Carolina.
The Silicon Shift: Semiconductors and Tech
You’ve probably heard about the "CHIPS Act." Well, it’s actually working.
Technology and electrical equipment are massive drivers of the trade balance now. We're talking about $213 billion in value. This category is tricky because it’s so broad—it includes everything from the tiny chips in your phone to the massive industrial boilers used in factories.
✨ Don't miss: Is The Housing Market About To Crash? What Most People Get Wrong
AI is Changing the Game
The surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created a localized "gold rush" for semiconductors. Everyone wants GPUs (Graphics Processing Units). While most of the raw manufacturing for lower-end chips still happens in Asia, the high-end design and the specific machines used to make those chips often come from the US.
By the end of 2025, US electronics production was growing at over 6% year-over-year. It’s not just about the silicon itself; it’s about the "optical and medical apparatus" too. The machines that surgeons use in Berlin or the lasers used in Tokyo labs? Often "Made in USA."
Agriculture: The Heartland’s Heavy Lift
Don't forget the farmers. Even in a high-tech world, people have to eat.
Agricultural exports are a bit of a rollercoaster. In 2025, we saw a weird trend: the volume of stuff we shipped went up by over 8%, but the value stayed flat at around $173 billion. Why? Because global prices for things like soybeans and corn dropped.
What’s Leaving the Farm?
- Soybeans: Still the heavyweight champ of the farm. China is a huge buyer, though they've been trying to buy more from Brazil lately to diversify.
- Meat and Dairy: There is a growing middle class in Southeast Asia and the Middle East that wants American beef and milk.
- The "Horticultural" Boom: We're exporting more nuts (like almonds from California) and specialty processed foods than ever before.
Honestly, the trade deficit in agriculture is a bit of a sore spot for economists. We import a ton of fresh fruit and veggies from Mexico and Canada, but we export the bulk commodities. It’s a trade-off that keeps our grocery stores full year-round.
The "Quiet" Exports: Services and IP
This is the part most people miss when they ask what is the us major exports. We don't just export "things." We export ideas.
🔗 Read more: Neiman Marcus in Manhattan New York: What Really Happened to the Hudson Yards Giant
The US has a massive surplus in services. This includes things like:
- Intellectual Property (IP): Think of the royalties paid for Microsoft Windows, Netflix shows, or Marvel movies.
- Financial Services: Wall Street banks charging fees to companies in London or Dubai.
- Travel and Education: When a student from India pays tuition at a US university, that’s technically an export of "educational services."
In August 2025 alone, service exports hit over $100 billion. It’s the "invisible" engine of the American economy that balances out the fact that we buy way more cars and clothes from overseas than we sell.
Who Are We Selling To?
The "Who" is just as important as the "What." The US trade world is basically a neighborhood game.
Canada and Mexico are almost always the top two. Because of the USMCA (the trade deal that replaced NAFTA), our supply chains are totally integrated. We might ship a car engine to Mexico, they put it in a car, and then they ship the car back. It’s a constant loop.
China is still a major player, taking about 7% of our exports, mostly in tech and farm goods. But the trend is "near-shoring"—trying to do more business with neighbors like Canada or "friend-shoring" with allies like the Netherlands and the UK.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're a business owner or an investor looking at these trends, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Tariffs: Trade policy has become super volatile. New 25% tariffs on steel or shifts in the USMCA can change the price of exports overnight. If you're in manufacturing, your "input costs" are at the mercy of the latest Washington memo.
- Energy is the New Tech: If you want to understand where the big money is moving, look at the Gulf Coast. The infrastructure being built for LNG and refined oil is the most significant industrial project in the country right now.
- Diversify Your Markets: China is getting harder to sell to because of "self-sufficiency" drives. Smart exporters are looking toward Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia) and India, where demand for US tech and high-quality food is exploding.
- Value-Add wins: Don't just export raw materials. The highest margins are in "specialized machinery" and "medical apparatus." The more complex the product, the less likely a buyer is to switch to a cheaper competitor.
The bottom line is that the US export machine is a lot more diverse than just "apps and movies." It’s a powerhouse of fuel, food, and high-end physics. Understanding this balance is the only way to really get how the global economy stays glued together.