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Export from California

A short guide for companies selling from California: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.

1. What California sells, and who buys it

Top goods exports

2025

  1. 1. Computers and data processing machines (HS 8471)US$12.4 billion
  2. 2. Computer parts and accessories (HS 8473)US$11.5 billion
  3. 3. Tree nuts (HS 0802)US$9.79 billionCensus counts the state where the export journey starts, often the port. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4. Smartphones and network equipment (HS 8517)US$7.34 billion
  5. 5. Civilian aircraft, engines and partsUS$7.28 billion
  6. 6. Medical and surgical instruments (HS 9018)US$5.03 billion
  7. 7. Vaccines, blood products and cultures (HS 3002)US$4.92 billion
  8. 8. Integrated circuits (HS 8542)US$4.56 billion
Show 12 more products
  1. 9. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment (HS 8486)US$4.08 billion
  2. 10. Refined petroleum products (HS 2710)US$3.89 billion
  3. 11. Measuring and checking instruments (HS 9031)US$3.08 billion
  4. 12. Diagnostic and lab reagents (HS 3822)US$2.95 billion
  5. 13. Passenger cars (HS 8703)US$2.76 billion
  6. 14. Orthopedic and body-part devices (HS 9021)US$2.35 billion
  7. 15. Electrical measuring instruments (HS 9030)US$2.29 billion
  8. 16. Vehicle parts (HS 8708)US$2.17 billion
  9. 17. Aircraft parts (HS 8807)US$2.16 billion
  10. 18. Lab and analysis instruments (HS 9027)US$2.16 billion
  11. 19. Electrical switches and connectors (HS 8536)US$1.8 billion
  12. 20. Blank recording media (HS 8523)US$1.65 billion
  • Origin of movement is where goods began their trip to port, not always where made; farm and mining goods often show the port's state; zone shipments are spread among states. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • The ranking's shares are of Census's current 2025 total by product, US$188.2 billion; the export total shown is Exhibit 2's US$188.4 billion as first published, never revised. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

Where the goods go

2025, share of goods exports

  • Mexico18.5%
  • Canada9%
  • Taiwan7.6%
  • Japan5.9%
  • China5.5%
  • South Korea4.9%
  • Netherlands4.4%
  • Germany3.2%
Show 2 more destinations
  • United Kingdom3%
  • Singapore2.8%

Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

2. What to look into next

Our reading

Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.

3. Trade agreements

For California: the United States’ agreements apply

4. What California runs for exporters

Only what California itself runs or asks of exporters, each with its source.

Show 5 more

Export requirements across the United States: see the steps in Export from the United States

5. Steps to export

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Exporting from California

  1. Check your eligibility and apply to the California State Trade Expansion Program for export vouchers, trade event fee subsidies or export training.Governor's Office of Business and Economic DevelopmentVouchers reimburse up to 75 percent of pre-approved export expenses, capped at US$10,000 a federal fiscal year.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: GO-Biz, California STEP program details⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  2. If you sell food or farm products, ask the Department of Food and Agriculture about its trade missions, market funds and export classes.California Department of Food and AgricultureOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: CDFA, Trade Export Program page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  3. Ask the Interior Pest Exclusion program how to obtain a phytosanitary certificate for plants or plant products you ship abroad.California Department of Food and AgricultureOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: CDFA, Interior Pest Exclusion page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

  4. File electronic export information in the Automated Export System when the national rules require it.U.S. Census BureauOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: ITA, filing exports through the Automated Export System⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

Show 1 more export step
  1. Classify your product and check whether it needs an export license under the Export Administration Regulations.Bureau of Industry and SecurityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: ITA, United States export regulations page, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026

6. Organizations that help exporters

Start with GO-Biz Trade and USCS Irvine. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Export development and market information

Customs and tax

Show 1 more organization

Standards and sector requirements

Show 1 more organization

Chambers and industry associations

Show 1 more organization

7. Worth knowing

Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Export from the United States

8. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
  • Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

Turn this guide into your California project.

Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.

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Promote:California is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.