Motor vehicle lights imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported motor vehicle lights worth $4.85 billion (121.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 221 countries. That is 5% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $4.85B | 121.0K t |
| 2023 | $5.11B | 125.6K t |
| 2022 | $4.81B | 123.5K t |
| 2021 | $4.34B | 110.2K t |
| 2020 | $3.71B | 103.1K t |
| 2019 | $4.02B | 117.8K t |
| 2018 | $4.01B | 113.5K t |
| 2017 | $3.55B | 116.8K t |
Where the United States imports motor vehicle lights from
The largest suppliers were Mexico (44%), Taiwan (16%), South Korea (9%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $2.14B | 44% |
| Taiwan | $768.6M | 16% |
| South Korea | $446.8M | 9.2% |
| China | $426.5M | 8.8% |
| Canada | $252.9M | 5.2% |
| Japan | $233.7M | 4.8% |
| Germany | $115.9M | 2.4% |
| Thailand | $65.9M | 1.4% |
| Vietnam | $63.9M | 1.3% |
| Costa Rica | $48.4M | 1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $40.06 per kg, 27% above the world average of $31.51. 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.
Motor vehicle lights exports from the United States
In 2024, the United States exported motor vehicle lights worth $1.42 billion (32.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 6th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 205 countries. Canada alone took 51% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $728.5M | 52% |
| Mexico | $432.5M | 31% |
| China | $28.1M | 2% |
| Germany | $26.9M | 1.9% |
| Brazil | $21.8M | 1.5% |
| Australia | $19.4M | 1.4% |
| Thailand | $14.8M | 1% |
| Japan | $14.3M | 1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $14.0M | 1% |
| United Kingdom | $12.1M | 0.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States motor vehicle lights imports (HS 8512.20): 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 8512.20: Lighting or visual signalling equipment: electrical, of a kind used on motor vehicles (excluding articles of heading no. 8539).
Common questions
What is the value of motor vehicle lights imported by the United States?
The United States imported motor vehicle lights worth $4.85 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 121.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 221 countries worldwide, with 19% of world imports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply motor vehicle lights to the United States?
Mexico was the largest supplier with 44% of the value ($2.14 billion), followed by Taiwan (16%) and South Korea (9%). The top three together account for 69%, out of 88 supplier countries in total. Vietnam grew fastest among the top ten, up 26% on the year.
What is the average import price of motor vehicle lights per kg?
The average declared import value was about $40.06 per kg in 2024, 27% above the world average of $31.51 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of motor vehicle lights to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.55 billion in 2017 to $4.85 billion in 2024, an increase of 37%. The peak was 2023 at $5.11 billion. Over 8 years the average was $4.30 billion a year.
Does the United States also export motor vehicle lights?
Yes. The United States exported $1.42 billion worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Canada, Mexico and China. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $3.43 billion a year.
What is the HS code for motor vehicle lights?
The HS code for motor vehicle lights is subheading 8512.20. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8512 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 motor vehicle lights trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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