That dollar amount represents 4.1% of overall imports for all import products purchased ($23.542 trillion) during 2023 compared to 3.1% one year earlier.
The overall cost of cars imported by all buyer countries increased by an average 24.1% gain since 2019 when cars purchased on international markets were valued at $782.5 billion.
Year over year, the total dollar value for globally imported cars accelerated by 21.9% compared to $796.6 billion in 2022.
The top 5 countries for buying imported cars are the United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, France and mainland China. Collectively, that quintet of major buyers of imported cars generated 45% of worldwide spending on imported cars bought during 2023.
From a continental perspective, importers in Europe bought the highest dollar worth of imported cars during 2023 with purchases costing $444.2 billion or 45.8% of the global total. In second place were North American importers at 27.5% while another 19.1% of international spending came from buyers in Asia.
Smaller percentages went to importers in Oceanian countries (3%) led by Australia and New Zealand, Latin America (2.7%) excluding Mexico plus the Caribbean, then Africa (2.1%).
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for cars (including station wagons) is 8703.
Cars Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of cars during 2023.
- United States: US$210.3 billion (21.7% of imported cars)
- Germany: $78.1 billion (8%)
- United Kingdom: $56.5 billion (5.8%)
- France: $46.3 billion (4.8%)
- mainland China: $45.9 billion (4.7%)
- Belgium: $43.3 billion (4.5%)
- Canada: $38.6 billion (4%)
- Italy: $36.4 billion (3.8%)
- Australia: $24.2 billion (2.5%)
- Spain: $23.6 billion (2.4%)
- Türkiye: $18.2 billion (1.9%)
- Mexico: $17.7 billion (1.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $16.1 billion (1.7%)
- Netherlands: $15.2 billion (1.6%)
- Poland: $15 billion (1.5%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 70.6% of all cars imported in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for imported cars from 2022 to 2023 were: Türkiye (up 127.9%), Mexico (up 60.5%), Italy (up 42.3%) and Spain (up 35.3%).
Two top buyer countries posted declines in their imported cars purchases, namely: mainland China (down -12.1% from 2022) and the United Arab Emirates (down -6%).
Cars Imported into the United States
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United States of America imported the highest dollar value worth of cars during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Mexico: US$45 billion (up 23.1% from 2022)
- Japan: $40.9 billion (up 21.9%)
- Canada: $34.9 billion (up 32.2%)
- South Korea: $31.3 billion (up 40.7%)
- Germany: $23.9 billion (up 22.3%)
- United Kingdom: $6.6 billion (up 1.7%)
- Slovakia: $6.5 billion (up 38%)
- Italy: $5.1 billion (up 42.8%)
- Sweden: $4 billion (up 16.7%)
- mainland China: $2.5 billion (down -0.5%)
- Belgium: $2.4 billion (up 37.9%)
- Austria: $2.02 billion (up 44.8%)
- Hungary: $1.77 billion (up 44.3%)
- South Africa: $1.75 billion (up 29.9%)
- Netherlands: $544.5 million (up 34.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.4% of cars imported by buyers in the United States of America in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cars to the United States from 2022 to 2023 were: Austria (up 44.8%), Hungary (up 44.3%), Italy (up 42.8%) and South Korea (up 40.7%).
Mainland China was the lone top provider that experienced a decline in the value of their cars supplied to American importers via its modest -0.5% slowdown.
Overall, the value of US imported cars rose by an average 24.9% from all supplying countries since 2022 when cars purchased were valued at $168.3 billion.
Cars Imported into Germany
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of cars during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- United States: US$8.8 billion (up 43.5% from 2022)
- Spain: $8 billion (up 0.9%)
- Czech Republic: $7.6 billion (up 10.7%)
- Slovakia: $6.8 billion (up 6.9%)
- Mexico: $4.8 billion (up 24.8%)
- United Kingdom: $4.6 billion (up 26%)
- mainland China: $4.4 billion (up 183.3%)
- South Africa: $4 billion (up 41.5%)
- Italy: $3.9 billion (up 24%)
- France: $3.6 billion (down -16.3%)
- South Korea: $3 billion (up 80%)
- Hungary: $2.64 billion (up 0.7%)
- Japan: $2.57 billion (up 27%)
- Belgium: $2.3 billion (down -17.4%)
- Sweden: $1.3 billion (up 34%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 76.2% of cars imported by Germany in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cars to Germany from 2022 to 2023 were: mainland China (up 183.3%), South Korea (up 80%), United States of America (up 43.5%) and South Africa (up 41.5%).
Two countries experienced declines in the value of their cars supplied to German importers namely Belgium (down -17.4% from 2022) and France (down -16.3%).
Overall, the value of Germany’s imported cars increased by an average 14% from all supplying countries since 2022 when cars purchased were valued at $68.5 billion.
Cars Imported into the UK
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United Kingdom imported the highest dollar value worth of cars during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Germany: US$15.6 billion (up 22.8% from 2022)
- mainland China: $5.8 billion (up 29.5%)
- Spain: $5.1 billion (up 40.4%)
- Slovakia: $3.7 billion (up 37.9%)
- Czech Republic: $3.4 billion (up 28.6%)
- France: $3.1 billion (up 54.8%)
- Japan: $3 billion (up 49.3%)
- South Korea: $2.6 billion (up 5.2%)
- Romania: $1.9 billion (up 37.2%)
- Hungary: $1.6 billion (up 6.5%)
- Belgium: $1.5 billion (up 63.3%)
- Türkiye: $1.4 billion (up 8.1%)
- Mexico: $1.3 billion (up 27.4%)
- Italy: $1.2 billion (up 21.7%)
- South Africa: $1.1 billion (up 64.3%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 82.3% of cars imported by the United Kingdom in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cars to the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2023 were: South Africa (up 64.3%), Belgium (up 63.3%), France (up 54.8%) and Japan (up 49.3%).
The most modest year-over-year increase was the 5.2% gain recorded by buyers in South Korea.
Overall, the value of United Kingdom’s imported cars accelerated by an average 27.3% from all supplying countries since 2022 when cars purchased were valued at $44.4 billion.
Cars Imported into France
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of cars during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Germany: US$9.6 billion (up 33.9% from 2022)
- Spain: $7.5 billion (down -0.02%)
- mainland China: $3.2 billion (up 182.9%)
- Slovakia: $3.1 billion (up 10.5%)
- Czech Republic: $2.9 billion (up 29%)
- Romania: $2.13 billion (up 21.5%)
- Türkiye: $2.06 billion (up 39.6%)
- United Kingdom: $2 billion (up 86.9%)
- Morocco: $1.93 billion (up 8.3%)
- Italy: $1.92 billion (up 36%)
- South Korea: $1.8 billion (up 16.2%)
- Hungary: $963.2 million (up 17.7%)
- United States: $960.1 million (down -8%)
- Japan: $942.7 million (up 77.8%)
- Sweden: $813 million (up 22.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 90% of cars imported by France in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cars to France from 2022 to 2023 were: mainland China (up 182.9%), United Kingdom (up 86.9%), Japan (up 77.8%) and Türkiye (up 39.6%).
The United States of America is lone provider that experienced a decline in the value of cars supplied to French importers, pulled down by an -8% slowdown.
Overall, the value of France’s imported cars gained an average 23.7% from all supplying countries since 2022 when cars purchased were valued at $37.5 billion.
Searchable List of Cars Importing Countries in 2023
The 100 countries in the automated database below represent 99.1% of globally imported cars during 2022.
| Rank | Importer | Car Imports (US$) | 2022-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $210,288,253,000 | +24.9% |
| 2. | Germany | $78,129,319,000 | +14% |
| 3. | United Kingdom | $56,496,259,000 | +27.3% |
| 4. | France | $46,340,969,000 | +23.7% |
| 5. | mainland China | $45,940,704,000 | -12.1% |
| 6. | Belgium | $43,256,920,000 | +24.9% |
| 7. | Canada | $38,602,612,000 | +18.4% |
| 8. | Italy | $36,408,631,000 | +42.3% |
| 9. | Australia | $24,214,689,000 | +25.8% |
| 10. | Spain | $23,557,455,000 | +35.3% |
| 11. | Türkiye | $18,187,830,000 | +127.9% |
| 12. | Mexico | $17,674,192,000 | +60.5% |
| 13. | United Arab Emirates | $16,097,328,000 | -6% |
| 14. | Netherlands | $15,224,733,000 | +32.5% |
| 15. | Poland | $15,039,631,000 | +31% |
| 16. | Russia | $14,992,074,000 | +137.2% |
| 17. | Saudi Arabia | $14,894,968,000 | -1.2% |
| 18. | South Korea | $14,508,707,000 | +3.3% |
| 19. | Switzerland | $13,965,371,000 | +25.9% |
| 20. | Japan | $12,556,366,000 | +17.8% |
| 21. | Sweden | $11,427,224,000 | +16.6% |
| 22. | Austria | $11,204,142,000 | +24.2% |
| 23. | Taiwan | $7,921,375,000 | +21.3% |
| 24. | Portugal | $7,090,625,000 | +44.1% |
| 25. | Denmark | $7,084,015,000 | +31.1% |
| 26. | Czech Republic | $6,684,327,000 | +27.6% |
| 27. | Norway | $6,187,070,000 | -29.8% |
| 28. | Israel | $6,083,497,000 | -7.5% |
| 29. | Brazil | $5,789,770,000 | +59.2% |
| 30. | Philippines | $4,894,470,000 | +37% |
| 31. | Finland | $4,490,191,000 | +23.5% |
| 32. | Thailand | $4,409,266,000 | +142.8% |
| 33. | Ireland | $4,276,022,000 | +36.9% |
| 34. | Romania | $4,268,486,000 | +23.8% |
| 35. | New Zealand | $4,245,605,000 | -1.1% |
| 36. | Kuwait | $4,237,442,000 | +16.6% |
| 37. | Belarus | $4,118,455,000 | +123.1% |
| 38. | South Africa | $4,112,741,000 | -10.2% |
| 39. | Ukraine | $4,062,724,000 | +37.8% |
| 40. | Hungary | $4,029,027,000 | +17.2% |
| 41. | Slovakia | $3,777,610,000 | +27.1% |
| 42. | Greece | $3,215,671,000 | +40% |
| 43. | Chile | $3,123,729,000 | -38.5% |
| 44. | Kazakhstan | $3,057,785,000 | +68.3% |
| 45. | Kyrgyzstan | $2,766,881,000 | +413.5% |
| 46. | Colombia | $2,741,612,000 | +1.7% |
| 47. | Luxembourg | $2,628,133,000 | +19% |
| 48. | Uzbekistan | $2,524,363,000 | +224.1% |
| 49. | Qatar | $2,509,007,000 | +87.6% |
| 50. | Morocco | $2,495,709,000 | +17.9% |
| 51. | Slovenia | $2,449,348,000 | +13.4% |
| 52. | Hong Kong | $2,423,332,000 | +29.5% |
| 53. | Nigeria | $2,342,534,000 | +69.8% |
| 54. | Egypt | $2,322,096,000 | +12.2% |
| 55. | Lithuania | $2,273,746,000 | +19.2% |
| 56. | Vietnam | $2,225,112,000 | -20.1% |
| 57. | Indonesia | $2,086,792,000 | +67.6% |
| 58. | Croatia | $2,078,768,000 | +38.2% |
| 59. | Iraq | $2,062,114,000 | -37.8% |
| 60. | Jordan | $1,926,313,000 | +71.1% |
| 61. | Oman | $1,892,111,000 | +3% |
| 62. | Peru | $1,878,176,000 | +5.1% |
| 63. | Argentina | $1,851,140,000 | -4.8% |
| 64. | Malaysia | $1,795,847,000 | +18.9% |
| 65. | Bulgaria | $1,741,994,000 | +38.6% |
| 66. | Estonia | $1,649,545,000 | +28% |
| 67. | Dominican Republic | $1,528,645,000 | +14% |
| 68. | Algeria | $1,525,243,000 | +76.3% |
| 69. | Azerbaijan | $1,515,316,000 | +79.4% |
| 70. | Ecuador | $1,378,818,000 | +11.2% |
| 71. | Armenia | $1,069,292,000 | +78.4% |
| 72. | Latvia | $1,023,564,000 | +23.8% |
| 73. | Guatemala | $1,016,006,000 | +31.1% |
| 74. | Singapore | $1,011,611,000 | -8% |
| 75. | Costa Rica | $1,000,955,000 | +52.8% |
| 76. | Panama | $943,246,000 | +20.9% |
| 77. | Libya | $887,841,000 | +46.4% |
| 78. | Serbia | $844,108,000 | +27.8% |
| 79. | Cyprus | $838,598,000 | +70.5% |
| 80. | Bahrain | $832,525,000 | +12% |
| 81. | Pakistan | $823,691,000 | -52.9% |
| 82. | Tunisia | $812,219,000 | +9% |
| 83. | Iceland | $762,766,000 | +3.2% |
| 84. | India | $734,421,000 | +80.5% |
| 85. | Mongolia | $677,005,000 | +17.5% |
| 86. | Lebanon | $650,602,000 | -54.2% |
| 87. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $621,543,000 | +39.5% |
| 88. | Ethiopia | $575,323,000 | -21.9% |
| 89. | Cambodia | $573,099,000 | -28.1% |
| 90. | Paraguay | $551,895,000 | -3.2% |
| 91. | Ghana | $550,152,000 | -27.8% |
| 92. | Uruguay | $542,461,000 | +13.8% |
| 93. | Bolivia | $531,403,000 | +19.7% |
| 94. | Jamaica | $456,696,000 | +49.7% |
| 95. | Ivory Coast | $429,696,000 | +10.7% |
| 96. | Albania | $409,848,000 | +951% |
| 97. | Moldova | $402,849,000 | +20.8% |
| 98. | Mauritius | $398,784,000 | +49.8% |
| 99. | Bangladesh | $387,992,000 | -30.5% |
| 100. | Kenya | $381,394,000 | -11.2% |
Expanding the scope to the top 100 importers, the fastest-growing importers of cars were Albania (up 951% from 2022), Kyrgyzstan (up 413.5%), Uzbekistan (up 224.1%), Thailand (up 142.8%), Russia (up 137.2%), Türkiye (up 127.9%) then Belarus (up 123.1%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. Any entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2022 data is available.
See also Electric Cars Exports by Country, US Exported & Imported Cars by State, Cars Exports by Country and Truck Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 8, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 8, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 8, 2024