General cargo ships imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported general cargo ships worth $183.7 million (129.4 thousand tonnes). That is 59% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $450.3 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $183.7M | 129.4K t |
| 2023 | $450.3M | 130.3K t |
| 2022 | $50.1M | 36.2K t |
| 2021 | $40.0M | 25.2K t |
| 2020 | $26.6M | 16.8K t |
| 2019 | $209.4M | 139.2K t |
| 2018 | $39.1M | 83.4K t |
| 2017 | $310.9M | 127.6K t |
Where the United States imports general cargo ships from
Most of the value came from Angola (37%), Germany (20%), China (14%). Among the main suppliers, Angola grew fastest (+594% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | $67.8M | 37% |
| Germany | $37.5M | 20% |
| China | $26.1M | 14% |
| Japan | $25.4M | 14% |
| Denmark | $8.4M | 4.6% |
| Spain | $7.6M | 4.1% |
| Indonesia | $4.6M | 2.5% |
| Chile | $2.3M | 1.3% |
| Bahamas | $2.0M | 1.1% |
| Vietnam | $1.1M | 0.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.42 per kg, 42% below the world average of $2.46, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
General cargo ships exports from the United States
Exports of general cargo ships by the United States reached $69.9 million in 2024 (115.5 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to South Korea (33%), Mexico (17%), Canada (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Japan grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $22.9M | 33% |
| Mexico | $11.8M | 17% |
| Canada | $10.8M | 16% |
| South Africa | $5.2M | 7.5% |
| Bahamas | $3.6M | 5.1% |
| Colombia | $2.6M | 3.8% |
| Italy | $2.1M | 3.1% |
| Nigeria | $2.1M | 3% |
| Peru | $1.9M | 2.8% |
| Japan | $1.3M | 1.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States general cargo ships imports (HS 8901.90): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 8901.90: Vessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of both persons and goods.
Common questions
What is the value of general cargo ships imported by the United States?
The United States imported general cargo ships worth $183.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 129.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 35th of 167 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 59% on 2023.
Which countries supply general cargo ships to the United States?
Angola was the largest supplier with 37% of the value ($67.8 million), followed by Germany (20%) and China (14%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. Angola grew fastest among the top ten, up 594% on the year.
What is the average import price of general cargo ships per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.42 per kg in 2024, 42% below the world average of $2.46 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of general cargo ships to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $310.9 million in 2017 to $183.7 million in 2024, a fall of 41%. The peak was 2023 at $450.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $163.8 million a year.
Does the United States also export general cargo ships?
Yes. The United States exported $69.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to South Korea, Mexico and Canada. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $113.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for general cargo ships?
The HS code for general cargo ships is subheading 8901.90. It sits in HS chapter 89 (ships, boats and floating structures). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8901 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World general cargo ships trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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