Whether you're selling in person to local buyers, or making ecommerce sales through Shopify or another platform, you may not realize that there's a wide world out there for selling your products—a world that transcends beyond your borders.
Take the United States, for example. The U.S. is a huge market for selling all kinds of goods. Yet 95% of consumers and 75% of the world's purchasing power resideoutside the U.S.—and you can reach them with the power of exporting.
In this article, we'll explain what exporting means, examine the export market around the world, and explore how you can use exports to unlock new foreign markets for your products.
What is exporting?
In global trade,exportingis the process by which companies from one country sell their goods and services to companies or consumers in a different country. Common exports exchanged from one country to another include energy and natural resources, raw materials like food or textiles, and finished consumer products like electronics.
Manufacturers and retailers that sell their products to customers in foreign markets are exporting them. Exporting is one way that companies can rapidlyexpand their potential market, generate more revenue, and grow their businesses.
Which countries are the biggest exporters?
- China
- United States
- Germany
- France
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Hong Kong SAR
- South Korea
- Singapore
Top 10 USA exports in 2022
- Petroleum refining
- Oil drilling & gas extraction
- Car & automobile manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Organic chemical manufacturing
- Plastic & resin manufacturing
- Natural gas liquid processing
- Semiconductor & circuit manufacturing
- Navigational instrument manufacturing
- Nonferrous metal refining
Source:IBIS World
Source:World Bank
United States exporting
While the United States is the second largest exporter the world, it's worth noting that the country has a trade deficit. That means the U.S. spends more on imported goods than it receives from exporting.
Nevertheless, exports are big business. In fact, the United States Census Bureaureportedthat the US exported $2.134 trillion worth of goods and services in 2020. Demand for U.S. goods and services remains high.
Top 10 USA exports in 2022
- Petroleum refining
- Oil drilling & gas extraction
- Car & automobile manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Organic chemical manufacturing
- Plastic & resin manufacturing
- Natural gas liquid processing
- Semiconductor & circuit manufacturing
- Navigational instrument manufacturing
- Nonferrous metal refining
Source:IBIS World
Top 10 countries the U.S. exported to in 2022
- Canada
- Mexico
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Brazil
- India
Source:Trading Economics
How to export products
While the benefits of exporting are clear, the path to building an export business is trickier. Here are some tips for starting your exporting journey.
- Get government support.U.S. businesses interested in learning how to start exporting can get free support services from government agencies including theSmall Business Administration(SBA), theInternational Trade Administration(ITA), and other state and local agencies. This support ranges from regulatory assistance to educational resources and even financial grants.
- Conduct market research.在你开始出口之前,你需要研究的h foreign markets in order to find out which countries have the biggest potential to sell your goods. That means understanding which kinds of products consumers in a foreign country are interested in, as well as what competition exists in the international market.
- 了解贸易壁垒和限制。You can also take free online trainingcourses in exportingto see whether your products and services are eligible to be exported. Some countries have a specific process for approving new imports, or restrict certain products from entering their borders entirely.
- Find shipping and distribution partners.Shipping products internationally can be complicated, with additional challenges around packaging, tracking, andpayments. Partnering with aninternational shippingpartner and third-party distributors in your new markets can help you minimize expenses while providing a reliable shipment experience for buyers.
- Follow local regulations.Once you're ready to get up and running, it's important to make sure that you're abiding by all export regulations, both in your own country and in other countries. This may include securing an export license, as well as paying export duties and taxes.