What keeps US-China trade moving? Top 7 American items exported to China
According to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, US exports to China were US $106.31 billion during 2025. The top exports are dominated by energy products, medical apparatus and advanced machinery, with oilseeds leading the list. See the top 7 list inside.
Electrical, Electronic Equipment ($16.36B)
The electronic sector, integrated with circuits and microassemblies, alone accounted for $9.96B. Other significant exports in this sector include telephonic apparatus ($985M) and diodes or semiconductor devices ($783M), reflecting China's continued reliance on high-end US components for its tech manufacturing.
Aircraft, Spacecraft ($15.89B)
A major pillar of US exports, this sector saw China become the top global destination in 2025. Exports grew by $4.31B from the previous year, primarily through commercial aviation sales, although specialised niche items like parachutes and rotochutes ($639K) also contributed to the total.
Machinery, Nuclear Reactors, Boilers ($10.51B)
This diverse sector features high-value industrial equipment such as valves and appliances for pipes ($1.04B) and centrifuges ($832M). It also includes essential tech hardware like automatic data processing machines ($753M) and nuclear reactor-specific apparatus valued at approximately $135M.
Optical, Photo, Technical, Medical Apparatus ($9.91B)
These high-precision exports are vital for China’s healthcare and research industries. The historical trends show strong demand for US-made medical imaging devices and laboratory technical equipment used in advanced Chinese medical facilities.
Pharmaceutical Products ($9.10B)
Driven heavily by biotechnology, the largest sub-category is human or animal blood, vaccines, and antisera, totaling $6.69B. Retail medicaments added another $1.80B, highlighting China's massive market for U.S. healthcare innovation amidst an ageing population and rising health standards.
Plastics ($5.98B)
These exports include raw polymers and finished plastic articles used across China’s vast manufacturing landscape. This sector remains resilient as Chinese factories require high-quality US resins for automotive, packaging, and consumer goods production aimed at both domestic and international markets.
Mineral Fuels, Oils, Distillation Products ($5.14B)
Dominated by gaseous hydrocarbons and petroleum gases ($3.39B), this sector also saw crude oil exports of $626M. However, US crude exports to China plummeted by 76 per cent in 2025 due to trade tensions, with China shifting toward Canadian and sanctioned Russian suppliers.
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