Exports power the American economy. In 2025, the United States shipped roughly $2.2 trillion worth of goods to the world, with oil and gas, aircraft, machinery, medicines, vehicles, and electronics leading the way. A small group of large companies is behind a big share of those shipments.

Some of these companies have been selling to the world for well over a century. Others grew into global exporters more recently on the back of technology, energy, and medicine.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 export companies in the United States, based on their history, ownership, and the kind of products they send abroad.

Quick Comparison

Rank	Company	Founded	Owner / Founders	US Headquarters	Core Export Focus
1	ExxonMobil	1999 (roots to 1870)	Publicly listed; led by Chairman & CEO Darren Woods	Spring, Texas	Crude Oil, Fuels & Petrochemicals
2	Chevron	1879	Publicly listed; led by Chairman & CEO Mike Wirth	Houston, Texas	Crude Oil, LNG & Refined Products
3	Boeing	1916	Founded by William Boeing; publicly listed, led by CEO Kelly Ortberg	Arlington, Virginia	Commercial & Defense Aircraft
4	Apple	1976	Founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & Ronald Wayne; publicly listed, led by CEO John Ternus	Cupertino, California	iPhones, iPads & Computers
5	Ford Motor Company	1903	Founded by Henry Ford; publicly listed, Ford family retains voting control	Dearborn, Michigan	Cars, Trucks & SUVs
6	General Motors	1908	Founded by William C. Durant; publicly listed, led by Chair & CEO Mary Barra	Detroit, Michigan	Cars, Trucks & SUVs
7	Caterpillar	1925	Formed by merger of Holt and Best; publicly listed	Irving, Texas	Construction & Mining Machinery
8	Cargill	1865	Founded by William Wallace Cargill; privately held, family-owned	Minnetonka, Minnesota	Grain, Soybeans & Food Ingredients
9	Dow	1897	Founded by Herbert Dow; publicly listed, led by CEO Jim Fitterling	Midland, Michigan	Plastics & Chemicals
10	Eli Lilly and Company	1876	Founded by Colonel Eli Lilly; publicly listed, led by CEO Dave Ricks	Indianapolis, Indiana	Pharmaceuticals

1. ExxonMobil – America’s Biggest Energy Exporter

• Founded: 1999 (roots to 1870) 
• Owner: Publicly listed; led by Chairman & CEO Darren Woods 
• Headquarters: Spring, Texas

ExxonMobil’s story goes back to John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil in 1870. After the US government broke up Standard Oil in 1911, its pieces became separate companies, including the ones that later became Exxon and Mobil. The two merged in 1999 to form today’s ExxonMobil.

The company produces crude oil and natural gas and turns them into fuels, lubricants, and chemicals. A large part of this output is shipped to buyers in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Darren Woods has led the company as chairman and CEO since 2017.

What ExxonMobil does: Produces and exports oil, natural gas, refined fuels, and petrochemicals. 

Services: Crude oil and gas production, refining, chemicals, and lubricants.

2. Chevron – A California Giant Now Based in Texas

• Founded: 1879 
• Owner: Publicly listed; led by Chairman & CEO Mike Wirth 
• Headquarters: Houston, Texas

Chevron began in 1879 as a small oil exploration company in California. Over the decades, it grew into one of the largest energy companies in the world. In 2024, it announced it was moving its headquarters from San Ramon, California, to Houston, Texas.

The company is the second-largest US oil major after ExxonMobil. It sells crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and refined fuels to customers around the world. Mike Wirth has been chairman and CEO since 2018.

What Chevron does: Produces and exports crude oil, LNG, and refined fuels. 

Services: Oil and gas production, refining, LNG, and chemicals.

3. Boeing – The Biggest Name in American Aircraft Exports

• Founded: 1916 
• Owner: Founded by William Boeing; publicly listed, led by CEO Kelly Ortberg 
• Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia

William Boeing started the company in Seattle in 1916 as a small aircraft builder. Over a century later, it is one of the world’s two big makers of commercial jets, and one of the largest US defense contractors as well.

Aircraft and spacecraft are among America’s biggest export product groups, and Boeing is at the center of that trade. Most of its passenger jets are sold to airlines outside the United States. Kelly Ortberg became CEO in 2024 and has focused on stabilizing production and quality.

What Boeing does: Builds commercial airplanes, military aircraft, and space systems. 

Services: Passenger jets, cargo planes, defense systems, and aircraft support services.

4. Apple – Shipping American Tech Around the World

• Founded: 1976 
• Owner: Founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & Ronald Wayne; publicly listed, led by CEO John Ternus 
• Headquarters: Cupertino, California

Apple started in a California garage in 1976. It grew from making personal computers into one of the most valuable companies on Earth with the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Apple designs its products in the US and sells them in nearly every major market.

Tim Cook led Apple as CEO from 2011 until September 1, 2026, when John Ternus took over. Cook stays on as executive chairman. Apple’s products are mostly assembled abroad, but its US-based sales of devices and services to overseas customers still make it a major name in American technology exports.

What Apple does: Designs consumer electronics, software, and online services.

Services: iPhones, iPads, Macs, wearables, and digital services.

5. Ford Motor Company – A Century-Old Car Exporter

• Founded: 1903 
• Owner: Founded by Henry Ford; publicly listed, Ford family retains voting control 
• Headquarters: Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford founded the company in 1903 and made cars affordable for ordinary families with the moving assembly line. The Ford family still holds special voting shares today, which keeps it closely tied to its founder.

Ford builds trucks, SUVs, and cars in US plants and ships vehicles and parts to markets such as Canada, Mexico, and beyond. Vehicles and auto parts are among the country’s largest export categories. Jim Farley has been CEO since 2020.

What Ford does: Makes cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles. 

Services: Vehicles, auto parts, financing, and commercial fleet solutions.

6. General Motors – Detroit’s Global Automaker

• Founded: 1908 
• Owner: Founded by William C. Durant; publicly listed, led by Chair & CEO Mary Barra 
• Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan

William Durant founded General Motors in 1908 by bringing together several smaller car brands. Over time, it grew into one of the largest automakers in the world, with brands such as Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.

GM builds vehicles in North America and exports to many foreign markets. It has been investing heavily in electric vehicles. Mary Barra, the first woman to lead a major global automaker, has been CEO since 2014.

What General Motors does: Makes cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles. 

Services: Vehicles, parts, connected-car services, and auto financing.

7. Caterpillar – The Machine Behind Global Construction

• Founded: 1925 
• Owner: Formed by the merger of Holt Manufacturing and C. L. Best; publicly listed 
• Headquarters: Irving, Texas

Caterpillar was formed in 1925 when two rival tractor makers, Holt and Best, joined together. Its yellow bulldozers, excavators, and mining trucks are a familiar sight on building sites around the world.

The company sells machinery, engines, and turbines to customers in mining, construction, and energy industries on every continent. Machinery is one of the biggest export categories for the United States. Caterpillar moved its headquarters from Illinois to Texas in the early 2020s.

What Caterpillar does: Builds heavy construction, mining, and power equipment. 

Services: Bulldozers, excavators, mining trucks, engines, and turbines.

8. Cargill – A Private Giant Feeding the World

• Founded: 1865 
• Owner: Founded by William Wallace Cargill; privately held, family-owned 
• Headquarters: Minnetonka, Minnesota

Cargill began in 1865 as a single grain storage business in Iowa. Over 150 years later, it is one of America’s largest privately held companies, still controlled by the Cargill and MacMillan families. 

The company buys, moves, and processes grain, soybeans, and other farm products, and ships them to buyers across the globe. Agricultural goods are a cornerstone of US exports, and Cargill sits at the center of that supply chain.

What Cargill does: Trades and processes farm products and food ingredients. 

Services: Grain and oilseed trading, animal feed, food ingredients, and meat processing.

9. Dow – A Chemical Giant Behind Everyday Plastics

• Founded: 1897 
• Owner: Founded by Herbert Dow; publicly listed, led by CEO Jim Fitterling 
• Headquarters: Midland, Michigan

Herbert Dow founded the company in 1897 in Midland, Michigan, to extract chemicals from underground brine. It has grown into one of the largest chemical makers in the world.

Dow makes plastics and specialty chemicals used in packaging, construction, and consumer goods. Plastics and organic chemicals are major US export categories, and Dow ships large volumes to customers overseas. Jim Fitterling has led the company since 2018.

What Dow does: Makes plastics, chemicals, and materials science products. 

Services: Packaging plastics, industrial chemicals, coatings, and performance materials.

10. Eli Lilly and Company – Pharmaceutical Exports on the Rise

• Founded: 1876 
• Owner: Founded by Colonel Eli Lilly; publicly listed, led by CEO Dave Ricks 
• Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana

Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmacist and Civil War veteran, started the company in 1876. It became known for mass-producing medicines and was among the first to make insulin available widely.

Pharmaceutical preparations were the single largest US export product by value in 2025. Lilly is one of several American drugmakers, along with firms like Pfizer, Merck, and AbbVie, that send large volumes of medicines overseas. Dave Ricks has been CEO since 2017.

What Eli Lilly does: Develops and manufactures prescription medicines. 

Services: Diabetes, obesity, cancer, and immunology treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which company is considered the largest exporter in the United States?

ExxonMobil is often mentioned among the leading U.S. exporters because of its substantial international sales of crude oil, fuels, and chemicals. However, the U.S. government does not publish a single definitive ranking of companies by total exports, so rankings can vary by source and methodology.

2. What are the biggest export categories for the United States?

Major U.S. export categories include energy products, machinery, aircraft, vehicles, electronics, chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. These industries contribute significantly to international trade and support economic activity across the country.

3. Which companies are based in the Houston area?

Chevron is headquartered in Houston, Texas, while ExxonMobil is based in Spring, Texas, near Houston. Both companies have substantial international operations and contribute to the global energy trade.

4. Which companies export aircraft and defense equipment?

Boeing is one of the most prominent American exporters of commercial aircraft. The company also develops defense and space systems for customers and government organizations worldwide.

5. Which export company is privately owned?

Cargill is a privately held, family-owned company and one of the largest private businesses in the United States. Its international operations include agricultural commodities, food ingredients, and other products supplied to global markets.

6. Who is the CEO of Apple now?

Apple’s executive leadership should be verified through the company’s official announcements to confirm the current CEO and any recent leadership changes.

7. Which U.S. trading partners buy the most American goods?

Mexico and Canada are among the leading destinations for U.S. goods exports. Their close geographic proximity, established supply chains, and extensive trade relationships make them important partners for American manufacturers and exporters.

8. Which companies export cars and trucks?

Ford and General Motors are major American automakers that export vehicles and automotive parts to international markets. Their global operations support manufacturing, distribution, and employment across the automotive industry.

9. Which company leads in heavy machinery exports?

Caterpillar is a well-known American manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. Its products are sold internationally and support industries such as infrastructure development, mining, agriculture, and energy.

10. Why do these ten companies matter to everyday people?

Major U.S. exporters support jobs, contribute to economic activity, and connect American industries with international customers. Their products—including fuel, food, vehicles, medicines, machinery, and technology—play important roles in everyday life around the world.

Conclusion

America’s export economy is multifaceted and diverse. Energy companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron contribute by shipping oil and gas across borders, while Boeing and Caterpillar focus on planes and heavy machinery. 

Ford and General Motors transport their cars abroad, while Cargill, Dow, and Eli Lilly send their grains, plastics, and pharmaceuticals to international buyers. Apple’s global sales of its domestically-produced brands illustrate the competitiveness of America’s technology market.

These ten companies will continue to dictate the trends of America’s export in the years to come, as the demand for their products, such as fuel, healthcare, sophisticated machines, and food, will continue to grow across borders.