This list reveals the top 10 cars importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world cars imports totaled US$758 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $16.3 billion worth of cars led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $4 billion
2. Morocco: $2.2 billion
3. Egypt: $1.7 billion
4. Algeria: $1.7 billion
5. Ghana: $998.6 million
6. Tunisia: $726.5 million
7. Nigeria: $669.7 million
8. Kenya: $502.7 million
9. Ethiopia: $342.6 million
10. Côte d'Ivoire: $280.8 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $103.7 billion worth of cars led by the following countries:
1. China: $49.9 billion
2. Japan: $11.1 billion
3. South Korea: $9.7 billion
4. Turkey: $8.6 billion
5. Taiwan: $5 billion
6. Philippines: $4.6 billion
7. Hong Kong: $2.3 billion
8. Singapore: $1.7 billion
9. Malaysia: $1.5 billion
10. Pakistan: $1.4 billion
European Union (EU) Importers
EU imported $302.6 billion worth of cars led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $58.5 billion
2. United Kingdom: $44.2 billion
3. Belgium: $36.4 billion
4. France: $34.8 billion
5. Italy: $31.2 billion
6. Spain: $20.2 billion
7. Austria: $10.1 billion
8. Netherlands: $9.9 billion
9. Poland: $9.13 billion
10. Sweden: $9.09 billion
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $24.3 billion worth of cars led by the following countries:
1. Argentina: $6.3 billion
2. Chile: $4.2 billion
3. Brazil: $3 billion
4. Colombia: $2 billion
5. Peru: $1.7 billion
6. Ecuador: $929.7 million
7. Dominican Republic: $872.7 million
8. Costa Rica: $747.6 million
9. Panama: $591.6 million
10. Guatemala: $572.9 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $40.3 billion worth of cars led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $15.8 billion
2. Saudi Arabia: $9.5 billion
3. Israel: $3.8 billion
4. Kuwait: $2.7 billion
5. Iran: $1.8 billion
6. Jordan: $1.5 billion
7. Qatar: $1.44 billion
8. Iraq: $1.38 billion
9. Lebanon: $1.2 billion
10. Bahrain: $877.6 million
North American Importers
North America imported $219.7 billion worth of cars led by the following countries:
1. United States: $179.6 billion
2. Canada: $28.6 billion
3. Mexico: $11.5 billion
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $21.7 billion worth of cars led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $17.5 billion
2. New Zealand: $3.9 billion
3. New Caledonia: $92.5 million
4. French Polynesia: $61.7 million
5. Fiji: $60.9 million
6. Papua New Guinea: $29 million
7. Northern Mariana Is: $14.6 million
8. Solomon Islands: $13.3 million
9. Samoa: $10 million
10. Vanuatu: $6.3 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing cars importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported cars was 11.4%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Cars Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Cars Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
