Monthly trade report
United States trade: May 2026
Imports into the United States totaled US$312 billion in May 2026, up 3.8% from April 2026 and up 13.1% from May 2025, according to US Census Bureau data compiled by CargoFax.
ImportsExports
- Imports, May 2026
- US$312 billion
- Exports, May 2026
- US$208 billion
- Trade balance, May 2026
- -US$104 billion
US imports climb to US$312 billion while exports ease and the gap widens
At US$312 billion, US general imports in May 2026 were 3.8% above April and 13.1% above May 2025, according to US Census Bureau data. Exports went the other way, slipping 4.5% to US$208 billion. The resulting deficit, about US$104 billion, was the widest of the year so far.
Mexico supplied US$54.2 billion of imports, its highest monthly figure since January 2024, and US$23.3 billion of that entered through Laredo, Texas. Imports from China rose 18.8% from April to US$23.5 billion, and Vietnam reached US$21.8 billion, also a high since January 2024. By product, computers (HS 8471) held at US$35.7 billion, while storage devices (HS 8523) rose 35.1% to US$6.34 billion.
On the export side, gold (HS 7108) fell 52.2% to US$5.42 billion and computers fell 25.2%. Crude petroleum rose 11.7% to US$19.2 billion, 157.1% above a year earlier, keeping mineral fuels at 20.6% of all exports. Sea freight carried 38.4% of export value and Houston became the top export port, with 7.8%. Shipments to Japan rose 22.8% to US$11.0 billion.
What the data shows: May paired a rise in imports, led by Mexico and Asian suppliers, with weaker precious-metal exports. Oil shipments continue to grow; the data does not show why, nor whether the wider gap will persist.
Month at a glance
| Metric | May 2026 | April 2026 | Change | May 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import value (US$, customs value) | 311,856,112,671 | 300,455,484,603 | +3.8% | 275,790,909,354 | +13.1% |
| Export value (US$, f.a.s.) | 208,207,730,180 | 217,995,876,395 | -4.5% | 184,209,653,448 | +13.0% |
| Trade balance (exports minus imports, US$) | -103,648,382,491 | -82,459,608,208 | -91,581,255,906 |
How does the month compare with the last three months, the quarter, and the year?
| Period | Total | Prior period | vs prior period | Same period last year | vs same period last year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports Last 3 months Mar – May '26 | 914,597,225,459 | 796,063,239,137 Dec '25 – Feb '26 | +14.9% | 893,759,929,642 | +2.3% |
| Imports Quarter to date Apr – May '26 | 612,311,597,274 | 514,092,468,748 Jan – Feb '26 | +19.1% | 551,473,890,376 | +11.0% |
| Imports Year to date Jan – May '26 | 1,428,689,694,207 | 1,499,578,317,455 Jan – May '25 | -4.7% | 1,499,578,317,455 | -4.7% |
| Exports Last 3 months Mar – May '26 | 647,597,088,427 | 559,738,700,257 Dec '25 – Feb '26 | +15.7% | 564,787,107,334 | +14.7% |
| Exports Quarter to date Apr – May '26 | 426,203,606,575 | 381,523,992,979 Jan – Feb '26 | +11.7% | 373,340,250,059 | +14.2% |
| Exports Year to date Jan – May '26 | 1,029,121,081,406 | 896,997,408,739 Jan – May '25 | +14.7% | 896,997,408,739 | +14.7% |
Imports: What did the United States import in May 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 77,897,290,930 | 25.0% | +3.3% | +47.5% |
| 85 | Electrical equipment | 51,485,276,354 | 16.5% | +4.2% | +29.9% |
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 29,031,607,274 | 9.3% | +3.3% | -0.2% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 21,910,329,923 | 7.0% | +7.2% | +26.0% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | 14,246,144,823 | 4.6% | +2.4% | -25.1% |
| 98 | Special classification provisions | 11,222,760,528 | 3.6% | +3.9% | +15.2% |
| 90 | Optical and medical instruments | 9,978,031,385 | 3.2% | -1.8% | -5.2% |
| 71 | Precious stones and metals | 6,596,236,818 | 2.1% | +24.2% | +47.9% |
| 39 | Plastics | 6,109,603,823 | 2.0% | +7.1% | +7.6% |
| 94 | Furniture and lighting | 4,821,798,532 | 1.5% | +6.0% | -2.5% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8471 | Computers | 35,711,744,148 | 11.5% | +1.3% | +77.6% |
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 15,156,298,648 | 4.9% | +9.1% | +26.3% |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 15,100,971,800 | 4.8% | +3.4% | -5.3% |
| 8517 | Phones and network equipment | 15,092,333,377 | 4.8% | -0.9% | +47.5% |
| 8473 | Computer and office machine parts | 13,749,798,033 | 4.4% | +15.4% | +102.7% |
| 9801 | Special national tariff items | 9,797,103,163 | 3.1% | +3.6% | +14.1% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 7,355,540,300 | 2.4% | +3.6% | +5.1% |
| 3004 | Packaged medicines | 7,037,612,699 | 2.3% | +8.5% | -9.5% |
| 3002 | Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 6,546,419,013 | 2.1% | -4.1% | -36.3% |
| 8523 | Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices,... | 6,337,443,558 | 2.0% | +35.1% | +292.8% |
Imports: what went up, what went down
Biggest increases
Computer and office machine parts (HS 8473) added US$1.84 billion compared with April 2026, more than any other product heading.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8473 | Computer and office machine parts | 11,910,622,389 | 13,749,798,033 | +1,839,175,644 | +15.4% |
| 8523 | Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices,... | 4,689,613,410 | 6,337,443,558 | +1,647,830,148 | +35.1% |
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 13,893,659,486 | 15,156,298,648 | +1,262,639,162 | +9.1% |
| 8802 | Aircraft n.e.c. in heading no. 8801, except unmanned... | 1,367,640,443 | 1,952,558,426 | +584,917,983 | +42.8% |
| 3004 | Packaged medicines | 6,486,317,600 | 7,037,612,699 | +551,295,099 | +8.5% |
Biggest decreases
Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand (HS 9701) had the largest decline, US$1.11 billion less than in April 2026.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9701 | Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand | 1,528,621,868 | 421,786,205 | -1,106,835,663 | -72.4% |
| 8507 | Batteries | 2,390,039,962 | 1,945,616,159 | -444,423,803 | -18.6% |
| 3002 | Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 6,828,404,461 | 6,546,419,013 | -281,985,448 | -4.1% |
| 8486 | Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or... | 1,532,106,265 | 1,304,600,356 | -227,505,909 | -14.8% |
| 7403 | Refined and copper alloys, unwrought | 1,596,250,565 | 1,381,126,770 | -215,123,795 | -13.5% |
Where did the United States' imports come from?
| Origin | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 54,179,631,779 | 17.4% | +6.9% | +17.5% |
| Canada | 36,337,153,960 | 11.7% | +3.7% | +21.2% |
| Taiwan | 24,575,810,655 | 7.9% | +1.9% | +50.0% |
| China | 23,507,816,100 | 7.5% | +18.8% | +15.1% |
| Vietnam | 21,757,534,780 | 7.0% | +6.6% | +36.1% |
| Germany | 13,404,280,562 | 4.3% | -3.3% | +1.5% |
| South Korea | 13,300,796,173 | 4.3% | -1.9% | +16.1% |
| Japan | 11,759,803,624 | 3.8% | -9.1% | -1.9% |
| Thailand | 11,420,658,588 | 3.7% | -15.3% | +68.8% |
| India | 9,136,391,175 | 2.9% | +10.6% | -3.1% |
Ports of entry
| Port | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 27,007,508,936 | 8.7% | -0.6% | -11.8% |
| Laredo, TX | 24,288,603,574 | 7.8% | +11.8% | +26.1% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 20,595,308,379 | 6.6% | -1.2% | +6.6% |
| Newark, NJ | 17,211,789,024 | 5.5% | +11.5% | -2.7% |
| Los Angeles International Airport, CA | 11,235,804,682 | 3.6% | -8.5% | +35.8% |
Imports: How did imports arrive: by sea, air, or land?
| Transport mode | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea (vessel) | 112,278,886,549 | 36.0% | +4.7% | +0.5% |
| Air | 104,974,108,981 | 33.7% | +0.2% | +21.7% |
| Land and other | 94,603,117,141 | 30.3% | +7.0% | +21.7% |
Sea (vessel): top products, partners, and carriers
| # | Product | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Passenger cars 9.3% | China 13.6% |
| 2 | Crude petroleum 5.6% | Vietnam 8.7% |
| 3 | Refined petroleum fuels 4.5% | Japan 7.5% |
Air: top products, partners, and carriers
| # | Product | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computers 19.6% | Taiwan 19.3% |
| 2 | Phones and network equipment 11.6% | Vietnam 10.7% |
| 3 | Computer and office machine parts 11.4% | Thailand 7.0% |
Land and other: top products, partners, and carriers
| # | Product | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computers 14.4% | Mexico 52.6% |
| 2 | Crude petroleum 9.3% | Canada 34.1% |
| 3 | Vehicle parts and accessories 4.9% | China 2.2% |
Imports: Which import routes carried the most?
| # | Route | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico → Laredo, TX | 23,266,107,028 | 7.5% | +11.2% | +25.8% |
| 2 | Mexico → Ysleta, TX | 7,927,669,019 | 2.5% | +6.8% | +46.4% |
| 3 | Taiwan → Chicago, IL | 5,925,858,068 | 1.9% | -1.2% | +55.9% |
| 4 | Canada → Detroit, MI | 5,620,646,834 | 1.8% | +6.4% | +21.9% |
| 5 | China → Los Angeles, CA | 5,532,646,277 | 1.8% | +15.7% | +38.3% |
| 6 | Canada → Port Huron, MI | 5,159,091,202 | 1.7% | -3.7% | +0.7% |
| 7 | Taiwan → San Francisco International Airport, CA | 4,347,596,424 | 1.4% | -5.0% | -9.8% |
| 8 | Vietnam → Los Angeles, CA | 4,313,338,754 | 1.4% | +1.4% | +23.1% |
| 9 | Vietnam → Chicago, IL | 3,736,002,905 | 1.2% | -8.9% | +12.6% |
| 10 | Canada → Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY | 3,610,558,329 | 1.2% | +0.5% | +16.4% |
Imports: Which imports grew and declined over the last three months?
Mar 2026 to May 2026 compared with Mar 2025 to May 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computers | 53,750,724,635 | 103,587,644,396 | +49,836,919,761 | +92.7% |
| Computer and office machine parts | 20,667,768,316 | 38,706,940,125 | +18,039,171,809 | +87.3% |
| Phones and network equipment | 32,688,343,649 | 44,987,522,464 | +12,299,178,815 | +37.6% |
| Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices,... | 4,693,920,240 | 15,179,026,113 | +10,485,105,873 | +223.4% |
| Crude petroleum | 35,618,496,886 | 41,509,835,599 | +5,891,338,713 | +16.5% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hormones, prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes,... | 25,878,610,969 | 621,061,343 | -25,257,549,626 | -97.6% |
| Articles of precious metal or of metal clad with... | 18,781,558,894 | 1,883,146,631 | -16,898,412,263 | -90.0% |
| Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 35,477,175,112 | 20,067,973,641 | -15,409,201,471 | -43.4% |
| Packaged medicines | 31,925,782,019 | 19,668,409,393 | -12,257,372,626 | -38.4% |
| Passenger cars | 49,855,066,436 | 46,197,717,728 | -3,657,348,708 | -7.3% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | 43,393,020,746 | 73,286,692,576 | +29,893,671,830 | +68.9% |
| Mexico | 135,976,351,064 | 156,074,423,886 | +20,098,072,822 | +14.8% |
| Vietnam | 45,620,998,693 | 62,697,618,768 | +17,076,620,075 | +37.4% |
| Thailand | 20,782,742,956 | 36,777,513,793 | +15,994,770,837 | +77.0% |
| Canada | 94,046,622,455 | 105,454,616,141 | +11,407,993,686 | +12.1% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 55,285,801,237 | 15,768,708,065 | -39,517,093,172 | -71.5% |
| Switzerland | 28,061,317,232 | 13,072,321,833 | -14,988,995,399 | -53.4% |
| China | 75,267,701,406 | 64,156,014,033 | -11,111,687,373 | -14.8% |
| India | 30,639,109,307 | 25,760,921,697 | -4,878,187,610 | -15.9% |
| Netherlands | 11,113,252,449 | 6,956,812,454 | -4,156,439,995 | -37.4% |
What did the United States export in May 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 42,947,566,653 | 20.6% | +2.4% | +77.9% |
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 26,274,639,859 | 12.6% | -13.2% | +9.1% |
| 85 | Electrical equipment | 21,208,691,151 | 10.2% | -1.1% | +14.1% |
| 88 | Aircraft | 15,073,277,479 | 7.2% | -2.7% | +20.4% |
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 11,615,352,402 | 5.6% | +1.6% | -5.0% |
| 71 | Precious stones and metals | 9,834,566,337 | 4.7% | -43.9% | -42.2% |
| 90 | Optical and medical instruments | 9,102,049,262 | 4.4% | +4.3% | +4.3% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | 7,950,013,685 | 3.8% | +3.0% | -4.7% |
| 39 | Plastics | 7,348,890,119 | 3.5% | +3.9% | +11.0% |
| 98 | Special classification provisions | 6,463,087,597 | 3.1% | -3.6% | +16.3% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 19,150,966,944 | 9.2% | +11.7% | +157.1% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 14,350,914,182 | 6.9% | -1.3% | +60.5% |
| 8800 | HS heading 8800 | 14,038,579,950 | 6.7% | -4.0% | +20.1% |
| 2711 | Natural gas and LPG | 7,816,827,946 | 3.8% | -9.1% | +23.3% |
| 8471 | Computers | 6,277,182,547 | 3.0% | -25.2% | +27.3% |
| 9880 | HS heading 9880 | 5,577,150,252 | 2.7% | -2.5% | +22.5% |
| 7108 | Gold, unwrought or semi-manufactured | 5,418,438,164 | 2.6% | -52.2% | -1.3% |
| 3002 | Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 4,686,038,642 | 2.3% | +2.8% | -14.1% |
| 8542 | Integrated circuits (chips) | 4,528,746,404 | 2.2% | +2.9% | +8.2% |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 4,359,483,810 | 2.1% | +6.5% | -10.7% |
Exports: what went up, what went down
Biggest increases
Exports of crude petroleum (HS 2709) rose US$2.00 billion from April 2026, the largest increase of any export product.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 17,147,028,442 | 19,150,966,944 | +2,003,938,502 | +11.7% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 3,815,488,834 | 4,240,026,572 | +424,537,738 | +11.1% |
| 2901 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | 1,023,511,534 | 1,397,331,736 | +373,820,202 | +36.5% |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 4,093,438,677 | 4,359,483,810 | +266,045,133 | +6.5% |
| 8517 | Phones and network equipment | 4,109,113,859 | 4,319,827,952 | +210,714,093 | +5.1% |
Biggest decreases
The largest export decrease was in gold, unwrought or semi-manufactured (HS 7108), down 52.2% from April 2026.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7108 | Gold, unwrought or semi-manufactured | 11,343,757,223 | 5,418,438,164 | -5,925,319,059 | -52.2% |
| 8471 | Computers | 8,391,073,889 | 6,277,182,547 | -2,113,891,342 | -25.2% |
| 8473 | Computer and office machine parts | 5,836,834,386 | 3,987,005,131 | -1,849,829,255 | -31.7% |
| 7106 | Silver (including silver plated with gold or platinum) | 1,543,191,146 | 615,278,453 | -927,912,693 | -60.1% |
| 2711 | Natural gas and LPG | 8,602,797,740 | 7,816,827,946 | -785,969,794 | -9.1% |
Where did the United States' exports go?
| Destination | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 33,050,788,122 | 15.9% | -6.5% | +17.5% |
| Canada | 29,790,835,759 | 14.3% | +0.2% | +5.4% |
| Netherlands | 11,247,314,917 | 5.4% | -0.1% | +33.1% |
| Japan | 11,006,376,857 | 5.3% | +22.8% | +55.5% |
| China | 9,117,372,310 | 4.4% | -3.0% | +40.7% |
| South Korea | 8,378,941,821 | 4.0% | +3.0% | +53.5% |
| Germany | 7,605,614,808 | 3.7% | -6.2% | +17.2% |
| United Kingdom | 7,599,126,480 | 3.6% | -7.4% | -6.0% |
| Hong Kong | 5,268,416,770 | 2.5% | -4.9% | +51.6% |
| Taiwan | 4,736,565,929 | 2.3% | -13.1% | -0.3% |
Customs offices of exit
| Port | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 16,146,695,836 | 7.8% | +2.7% | +57.6% |
| Jfk International Airport, NY | 12,148,075,118 | 5.8% | -38.6% | -35.2% |
| Laredo, TX | 12,092,913,268 | 5.8% | -3.3% | +9.2% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 10,331,985,314 | 5.0% | -0.6% | +69.5% |
| New Orleans, LA | 9,521,583,979 | 4.6% | -1.4% | +18.7% |
Exports: How did exports leave: by sea, air, or land?
| Transport mode | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea (vessel) | 80,025,499,801 | 38.4% | +3.8% | +36.4% |
| Air | 66,155,315,240 | 31.8% | -14.0% | -2.1% |
| Land and other | 62,026,915,139 | 29.8% | -3.0% | +7.0% |
Sea (vessel): top products, partners, and carriers
| # | Product | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crude petroleum 23.8% | Netherlands 9.4% |
| 2 | Refined petroleum fuels 15.2% | Japan 9.3% |
| 3 | Natural gas and LPG 8.9% | South Korea 7.3% |
Air: top products, partners, and carriers
| # | Product | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS heading 8800 13.5% | United Kingdom 7.2% |
| 2 | Gold, unwrought or semi-manufactured 7.7% | Hong Kong 7.2% |
| 3 | Computers 7.7% | China 6.9% |
Land and other: top products, partners, and carriers
| # | Product | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS heading 9880 9.0% | Mexico 43.3% |
| 2 | HS heading 8800 7.5% | Canada 42.4% |
| 3 | Vehicle parts and accessories 5.5% | China 1.2% |
Exports: Which export routes carried the most?
| # | Route | Value (US$) | Share | vs Apr 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo, TX → Mexico | 12,077,258,914 | 5.8% | -3.3% | +9.2% |
| 2 | Detroit, MI → Canada | 6,862,245,018 | 3.3% | +5.4% | +3.7% |
| 3 | Port Huron, MI → Canada | 4,395,843,576 | 2.1% | -8.8% | -3.7% |
| 4 | Ysleta, TX → Mexico | 4,164,498,259 | 2.0% | -14.1% | +28.3% |
| 5 | Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY → Canada | 3,513,011,017 | 1.7% | +3.2% | -15.2% |
| 6 | Low Value → Canada | 3,430,689,546 | 1.6% | -1.3% | -11.0% |
| 7 | Jfk International Airport, NY → Hong Kong | 3,277,062,582 | 1.6% | -2.0% | +76.0% |
| 8 | Houston, TX → Netherlands | 2,814,142,712 | 1.4% | -0.4% | +98.4% |
| 9 | Corpus Christi, TX → Japan | 2,262,331,131 | 1.1% | +35.4% | new |
| 10 | Corpus Christi, TX → South Korea | 2,043,196,014 | 1.0% | +32.1% | +202.2% |
Exports: Which exports grew and declined over the last three months?
Mar 2026 to May 2026 compared with Mar 2025 to May 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum | 24,310,008,171 | 47,009,286,680 | +22,699,278,509 | +93.4% |
| Refined petroleum fuels | 26,233,314,826 | 41,277,856,516 | +15,044,541,690 | +57.3% |
| Gold, unwrought or semi-manufactured | 21,267,054,408 | 33,559,040,677 | +12,291,986,269 | +57.8% |
| Computers | 14,865,231,939 | 22,009,932,607 | +7,144,700,668 | +48.1% |
| Computer and office machine parts | 8,275,589,371 | 14,942,041,739 | +6,666,452,368 | +80.6% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of precious metal or of metal clad with... | 16,485,211,265 | 384,773,985 | -16,100,437,280 | -97.7% |
| Passenger cars | 15,475,262,779 | 13,276,647,663 | -2,198,615,116 | -14.2% |
| Trucks and pickups | 6,049,941,960 | 5,604,465,856 | -445,476,104 | -7.4% |
| Packaged medicines | 8,754,118,171 | 8,373,423,444 | -380,694,727 | -4.3% |
| Orthopaedic appliances | 3,541,401,909 | 3,419,455,384 | -121,946,525 | -3.4% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 85,296,371,201 | 101,170,017,402 | +15,873,646,201 | +18.6% |
| South Korea | 17,461,042,854 | 24,691,679,446 | +7,230,636,592 | +41.4% |
| Netherlands | 24,926,558,205 | 31,991,100,654 | +7,064,542,449 | +28.3% |
| Japan | 21,141,594,608 | 28,082,296,133 | +6,940,701,525 | +32.8% |
| Hong Kong | 11,872,063,327 | 17,150,176,359 | +5,278,113,032 | +44.5% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 7,534,270,853 | 5,882,214,852 | -1,652,056,001 | -21.9% |
| Switzerland | 21,743,551,937 | 20,093,006,809 | -1,650,545,128 | -7.6% |
| Saudi Arabia | 3,926,306,179 | 2,684,740,695 | -1,241,565,484 | -31.6% |
| France | 13,318,360,193 | 12,335,217,491 | -983,142,702 | -7.4% |
| Spain | 6,732,307,129 | 6,332,964,614 | -399,342,515 | -5.9% |
12-month trend
| Month | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | 265,407,066,272 | 180,538,046,092 | -84,869,020,180 |
| Jul 2025 | 292,132,769,362 | 175,457,024,890 | -116,675,744,472 |
| Aug 2025 | 262,590,251,777 | 179,448,426,481 | -83,141,825,296 |
| Sep 2025 | 276,807,396,462 | 185,184,743,498 | -91,622,652,964 |
| Oct 2025 | 274,999,254,117 | 202,678,773,830 | -72,320,480,287 |
| Nov 2025 | 261,024,766,980 | 181,372,314,311 | -79,652,452,669 |
| Dec 2025 | 281,970,770,389 | 178,214,707,278 | -103,756,063,111 |
| Jan 2026 | 260,537,130,320 | 186,386,441,751 | -74,150,688,569 |
| Feb 2026 | 253,555,338,428 | 195,137,551,228 | -58,417,787,200 |
| Mar 2026 | 302,285,628,185 | 221,393,481,852 | -80,892,146,333 |
| Apr 2026 | 300,455,484,603 | 217,995,876,395 | -82,459,608,208 |
| May 2026 | 311,856,112,671 | 208,207,730,180 | -103,648,382,491 |
What looks unusual this month?
These changes may reflect a few large shipments, late records, or a classification change rather than a trend. Check them in the records before quoting them.
- Imports: Machinery and computers (HS 84) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Imports: Electrical equipment (HS 85) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Imports: Special classification provisions (HS 98) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Imports: Special transactions and CargoFax codes (HS 99) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Exports: Mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Exports: Plastics (HS 39) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Exports: Aluminium (HS 76) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
- Exports: Miscellaneous food preparations (HS 21) reached its highest monthly level since January 2024.
United States trade facts, May 2026
- Imports into the United States totaled US$312 billion in May 2026, up 3.8% from April 2026 and up 13.1% from May 2025.
- The largest single product was computers (HS 8471) at US$35.7 billion.
- Computer and office machine parts (HS 8473) added US$1.84 billion compared with April 2026, more than any other product heading.
- Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand (HS 9701) had the largest decline, US$1.11 billion less than in April 2026.
- Mexico supplied 17.4% of import value, more than any other origin; Canada was second at 11.7%.
- The United States recorded a trade deficit of US$104 billion in May 2026: exports minus imports.
- Crude petroleum (HS 2709) was the top export heading, at US$19.2 billion.
- Exports of crude petroleum (HS 2709) rose US$2.00 billion from April 2026, the largest increase of any export product.
- The largest export decrease was in gold, unwrought or semi-manufactured (HS 7108), down 52.2% from April 2026.
- Mexico was the top destination, taking 15.9% of export value, followed by Canada at 14.3%.
Methodology
US Census Bureau international trade statistics: general imports (customs value). US Census Bureau international trade statistics: total exports (f.a.s. value). Import values are declared customs value values in US dollars. Export values are declared f.a.s. values in US dollars. Categories follow the Harmonized System. The latest month may be revised as late records arrive. The period table leaves out a comparison that reaches before January 2024, when the series starts, or that includes a month not used as a base. Year to date is compared with the same months a year earlier. Source: US Census Bureau international trade statistics (official), retrieved through the Census API at country, US port, and HS 6-digit level; the sums reconcile with the published totals. Imports are general imports at customs value by country of origin; exports are total exports (domestic and foreign goods) at f.a.s. value by destination. Transport mode: Census publishes vessel and air values; "Land and other" is the remainder, mainly truck, rail, and pipeline trade with Canada and Mexico, plus mail. Census data has no company names. Recent months may be revised, and the annual revision is published each June.
FAQ
United States trade, May 2026: frequently asked questions
How much did the United States import in May 2026?
The United States imported US$312 billion (customs value) in May 2026, up 3.8% from April 2026 and up 13.1% from May 2025, according to US Census Bureau data.
How much did the United States export in May 2026?
The United States exported US$208 billion (f.a.s.) in May 2026, down 4.5% from April 2026 and up 13.0% from May 2025, according to US Census Bureau data.
What does the United States import?
In May 2026, the United States' largest imports were computers (HS 8471, US$35.7 billion), crude petroleum (HS 2709, US$15.2 billion), and passenger cars (HS 8703, US$15.1 billion). The largest HS chapter was machinery and computers, with 25.0% of the total.
What does the United States export?
In May 2026, the United States' largest exports were crude petroleum (HS 2709, US$19.2 billion), refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710, US$14.4 billion), and hs heading 8800 (HS 8800, US$14.0 billion).
Where does the United States import from?
The top origin countries for the United States' imports in May 2026 were Mexico (17.4%), Canada (11.7%), and Taiwan (7.9%), by share of value.
Where does the United States export to?
The top destinations for the United States' exports in May 2026 were Mexico (15.9%), Canada (14.3%), and the Netherlands (5.4%).
What is the United States' trade balance?
The United States recorded a trade deficit of US$104 billion in May 2026: exports of US$208 billion against imports of US$312 billion.
Are the United States' imports going up or down?
The United States' imports are rising. From March 2026 to May 2026, they totaled US$915 billion, up 2.3% from the same months last year. Year to date, the United States' imports are down 4.7% from the same period of 2025.
How do goods reach the United States: by sea, air, or land?
In May 2026, sea (vessel) freight carried 36.0%, air freight carried 33.7%, and land and other freight carried 30.3% of the United States' imports by value.
What are the United States' main ports of entry?
In May 2026, the United States' main points of entry were Chicago, IL with 8.7%, Laredo, TX with 7.8%, and Los Angeles, CA with 6.6% of imports.
Where can I get the United States import and export data?
CargoFax publishes this United States trade report free every month from official US Census Bureau statistics. The shipment-level US records behind US trade, with importers, exporters, carriers, and bills of lading, are searchable in Atlas Explorer and available in bulk through Files.
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