Illinois makes things. We know this. From Rockford’s machine shops to Chicago’s distribution centers, our state has long been the engine room of the Midwest. So, naturally, you’d assume our biggest import is something gritty and industrial, like car parts or crude oil. Maybe even medical gadgets. But no.
According to newly released data from the Census Bureau, visualized on a colorful new state-by-state map from Visual Capitalist (scroll down to see it), Illinois’ top import in 2024 is something a little… sleeker.
What’s Crossing Our Borders?
Trade patterns are shifting everywhere. Tariffs, global logistics snarls, and manufacturing realignments are reshaping what comes into the U.S. and how it gets here. Illinois, with its massive transportation network and access to rail, air, and highway systems, is a major player in that drama.
But even knowing that, the most-imported item in our state might still catch you off guard…