Starter motors imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported starter motors worth $1.47 billion (99.6 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 222 countries. That is 3% more 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 | $1.47B | 99.6K t |
| 2023 | $1.42B | 97.8K t |
| 2022 | $1.45B | 105.6K t |
| 2021 | $1.43B | 102.6K t |
| 2020 | $1.11B | 82.3K t |
| 2019 | $1.36B | 70.6K t |
| 2018 | $1.40B | 104.6K t |
| 2017 | $1.21B | 92.9K t |
Where the United States imports starter motors from
Most of the value came from Mexico (36%), Japan (18%), China (14%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $534.0M | 36% |
| Japan | $261.2M | 18% |
| China | $210.6M | 14% |
| South Korea | $88.9M | 6.1% |
| United Kingdom | $57.9M | 4% |
| Italy | $48.5M | 3.3% |
| India | $37.8M | 2.6% |
| Germany | $36.8M | 2.5% |
| Malaysia | $34.8M | 2.4% |
| Hungary | $24.9M | 1.7% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $14.72 per kg, close to the world average of $14.54.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Starter motors exports from the United States
The United States exported $822.4 million of starter motors in 2024 (40.0 thousand tonnes). It ranks 2nd of 179 countries for exports of this product. The largest buyer markets were Mexico (26%), Canada (19%), United Kingdom (18%). Among the main buyer markets, Singapore grew fastest (+108% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $215.8M | 26% |
| Canada | $154.0M | 19% |
| United Kingdom | $149.0M | 18% |
| India | $33.1M | 4% |
| Singapore | $29.5M | 3.6% |
| France | $28.2M | 3.4% |
| Germany | $22.8M | 2.8% |
| China | $21.4M | 2.6% |
| Japan | $19.7M | 2.4% |
| Australia | $18.3M | 2.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States starter motors imports (HS 8511.40): 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 8511.40: Ignition or starting equipment: starter motors and dual purpose starter-generators, of a kind used for spark or compression-ignition internal combustion engines.
Common questions
What is the value of starter motors imported by the United States?
The United States imported starter motors worth $1.47 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 99.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 222 countries worldwide, with 26% of world imports. The value was up 3% on 2023.
Which countries supply starter motors to the United States?
Mexico was the largest supplier with 36% of the value ($534.0 million), followed by Japan (18%) and China (14%). The top three together account for 69%, out of 106 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 20% on the year.
What is the average import price of starter motors per kg?
The average declared import value was about $14.72 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $14.54 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of starter motors to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.21 billion in 2017 to $1.47 billion in 2024, an increase of 21%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $1.36 billion a year.
Does the United States also export starter motors?
Yes. The United States exported $822.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $644.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for starter motors?
The HS code for starter motors is subheading 8511.40. 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 8511 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United States. Tell us your product to see it live.
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