Total exports in the US - Data and Analysis (1980-2032)

Total US exports are projected to reach $2.78 trillion in 2026, up 3.8% from 2025. This growth is propelled in part by record export levels in early 2026, with April exports hitting $327.1 billion, the highest on record. Export prices have experienced strong growth, with BLS data showing higher prices for agricultural goods such as fruit, meat and nuts. The Iran conflict has also driven exports higher, as consumer countries rely on the US for oil production. However, volatility in this market will weigh on growth in demand.Exports have experienced strong growth over the past five years, though they have been volatile. From 2021 to 2023, exports climbed significantly as global demand recovered from pandemic-based contractions. Energy-related products experienced exceptional growth in this period, with energy exports surging 58.1% in 2021 alone as fossil fuel prices increased globally from high demand and limited supply expansions. Semiconductors and advanced technology goods also contributed significantly to exports, with countries such as Taiwan driving strong sales.However, this boom began to decelerate in 2023 and 2024 as major trading economies stabilized, constraining the pace of export growth. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's high interest rates, implemented to cool inflation, strengthened the US dollar, making American-made goods less competitive to foreign buyers. The US-China trade relationship also deteriorated during this period, with restricted market access constraining export opportunities. As a result, exports only grew by 2.8% and 3.6% in 2023 and 2024, respectively.Growth continued to temper in the latter half of the current period, as the Trump administration imposed tariffs on most major trading partners under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The imposition of comprehensive tariffs beginning in April 2025 created significant uncertainty for exporters, leading to front-loading of shipments in early 2025 before the tariffs take effect. These tariffs also led to retaliatory tariffs from countries such as Canada and China, reducing the effective cost of many goods. As a result, exports only grew by 1.7% in 2025. Export growth to key trading partners showed divergent patterns from 2021 to 2026. Canada and Mexico remained the largest export destinations, benefiting from proximity and provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement. Exports to Taiwan surged 1,492% since 2018 and increased 314.83% year over year as semiconductor-related shipments and computer equipment sales expanded dramatically. Conversely, exports to China faced headwinds from ongoing trade tensions, with China falling from third to 16th place as a purchaser of US computers as tariffs disrupted traditional supply chains.