🇺🇸 United States imports of food processing machinery: 2024 trade data
The United States imported $2.10 billion of food processing machinery in 2024 (52.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 220 countries. That is 11% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of food processing machinery by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.10B | 52.0K t |
| 2023 | $2.36B | 57.7K t |
| 2022 | $2.14B | 55.7K t |
| 2021 | $1.98B | 51.7K t |
| 2020 | $1.45B | 38.4K t |
| 2019 | $1.57B | 43.3K t |
| 2018 | $1.55B | 43.1K t |
| 2017 | $1.45B | 40.3K t |
Where the United States imports food processing machinery from
Most of the value came from Germany (23%), Italy (15%), Netherlands (13%). Among the main suppliers, Spain grew fastest (+70% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $475.6M | 23% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $319.9M | 15% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $262.2M | 13% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $150.9M | 7.2% |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $121.9M | 5.8% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $119.0M | 5.7% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $98.0M | 4.7% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $74.7M | 3.6% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $58.8M | 2.8% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $53.7M | 2.6% |
Types of food processing machinery under HS 8438
| 8438.90 | Machinery: parts of those machines used in the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink | 29% |
| 8438.80 | Machinery: used in the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, n.e.c. in heading no. 8438 | 20% |
| 8438.10 | Machinery: industrial, for bakery and for the manufacture of macaroni, spaghetti or similar products | 18% |
| 8438.50 | Machinery: industrial, for the preparation of meat or poultry | 15% |
| 8438.20 | Machinery: industrial, for the manufacture of confectionery, cocoa or chocolate | 12% |
| 8438.60 | Machinery: industrial, for the preparation of fruits, nuts or vegetables | 3.8% |
| 8438.40 | Machinery: industrial, brewery machinery | 2.2% |
| 8438.30 | Machinery: industrial, for sugar manufacture | 0.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8438.
Average import price of food processing machinery
The average declared value was about $40.27 per kg, 50% above the world average of $26.89. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United States also exports food processing machinery
In 2024, the United States exported food processing machinery worth $1.10 billion (22.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 5th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 187 countries. Most of it went to Canada (18%), Mexico (14%), Netherlands (6%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 37%. Among the main buyer markets, France grew fastest (+32% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $199.2M | 18% |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $148.9M | 14% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $65.0M | 5.9% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $49.5M | 4.5% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $38.4M | 3.5% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $33.4M | 3% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $30.4M | 2.8% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $29.0M | 2.6% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $28.8M | 2.6% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $25.0M | 2.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8438: Machinery n.e.c. in this chapter, for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink; other than machinery for extraction or preparation of animal or fixed vegetable or microbial fats or oils.
Food processing machinery trade in the United States: questions
What is the value of food processing machinery imported by the United States?
The United States imported food processing machinery worth $2.10 billion in 2024 (52.0 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United States import food processing machinery from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Germany (23%), Italy (15%), Netherlands (13%).
What is the average import price of food processing machinery in the United States?
The average declared import value was about $40.27 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $26.89 per kg.
Does the United States export food processing machinery?
Yes. The United States exported food processing machinery worth $1.10 billion in 2024, mainly to Canada, Mexico, Netherlands.
What is the HS code for food processing machinery?
Food processing machinery falls under HS heading 8438 (Machinery n.e.c. in this chapter, for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink; other than machinery f). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading food processing machinery with the United States?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Food processing machinery trade in other countries
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