Imports are usually harmful to an economy as they affect the balance of payment of the country. However, there are certain circumstances like lack of resources or shortage of supply to fulfil demand, which leads to even the strongest economies to import. We have gathered a list of some of the top leading importing countries in the world.
1. China
At the top of the chart is none other than China. China has the largest population in the world. Therefore, in order to meet all demands, the nation has to import quite a lot. The major products that they import are oil, machinery, medical equipment, mineral fuels, plastics, etc. China’s major import partners comprise of Japan 22.2%, South Korea 18.3%, and the USA with 12.8%. This nation has a share of 20.2% of global imports and has a total import purchase value of over $2.843 trillion. China is known as a great nation to export your products to. In fact, there are many online B2B marketplaces.
2. Germany
Regardless of being a nation that has always been short on raw material, they have managed to become one of the top economies in the world. Major products that they import are metals, gas, oil, machinery, vehicles, agricultural products and much more.
Their imports are divided in the following manner. They import 18.7 % of all goods from China, 16.4% from the Netherlands, 14.6% from France and much more. This developed nation had an import purchase value of over $2.166 trillion and represented 12.5% of global imports.
3. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is one of the best economies in the world. Their capital, London, is known to be one of the most popular and largest financial hubs on the planet. Due to the high cost of labor and shortage of supplies required in the manufacturing process, The UK has to import a lot from other nations.
Most of their imports comprise of fuel, food, machinery and manufactured products. Over 26% of all their imports come from Germany, while 16.7% from China. The value of their imports in 2025 were over 2.166 trillion which hold 6.6% of the global imports.
4. India
India is one of the largest countries in the world, with relation to its mass population and land. In addition, this nation has experienced rapid growth in its GDP, which has helped it become one of the biggest economies in the world.
India’s import purchases are valued at $897 billion, and this number reflects 5.5% of the overall global imports. Its common import partners are. China. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the USA. They mainly import machinery, crude oil, chemicals, iron, steel and unique and expensive raw stones.
5. Russia
The Russian Federation is a superpower that has always been active in international trade. Over the years, due to the rise in population, their imports have experienced a significant increase. Their last recorded value of imports in 2025 was $476.13 billion. Russia is responsible for 2.3% of overall global imports.
Around 57.1% of their imports were from European countries, while 47.2% were from Asian nations. Their import purchases comprise of Machinery, equipment, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, plastics and much more.