Kuwait Trading Partner Portal
Trade Overview
The State of Kuwait borders Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. As of 2025, the population of Kuwait totaled 4.87 million people, and the country’s was GDP was approximately $157.21 billion. Kuwait remains a high-income country, backed by the world’s sixth-largest proven oil reserves, totaling over 101.5 billion barrels.
Kuwait’s economy is heavily reliant on oil, with petroleum products accounting for the vast majority of its export revenue. The country produces approximately 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, contributing significantly to government revenue and national GDP.
Key export destinations include South Korea, India, Japan, and China, while major imports come from China, the United States, the UAE, and Germany. Imports largely consist of machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs, and consumer goods.
Kuwait continues to pursue its Vision 2035 agenda, which aims to transform the country into a leading financial, commercial, and cultural hub in the region. This includes large-scale investments in infrastructure, economic diversification, and strategic reforms to reduce dependency on oil.
U.S. – Kuwait Trade
In 2025, two-way trade between the United States and Kuwait totaled $3.877 billion, with $2.47 billion worth of goods exported from the U.S. to Kuwait. The top export category was transportation equipment, totaling $774 million, followed by chemicals ($484 million), non-electrical machinery ($214 million), processed foods ($199 million), and computer and electronic ($191 million).
The United States imported approximately $1.41 billion in goods from Kuwait in 2025. The leading import category was petroleum and coal products, which totaled $976 million, followed by oil and gas at $373 million. Other notable imports included goods returned ($46 million), chemicals ($7 million), and primary metal manufactures at $5 million.
California – Kuwait Trade
In 2025, California exported approximately $174 million in goods to Kuwait, a 6% drop when compared to 2024 exports. Top exports included agricultural products ($42 million), petroleum & coal products ($28 million), computer and electronic products ($27 million), chemicals ($20 million), and processed foods ($13 million).
In the same year, California imported about $28 million in goods from Kuwait. The top import was oil and gas at $13 million. Other significant imports included petroleum and coal products ($8 million), goods returned ($8 million), transportation equipment ($94,000), and processed foods ($26,000)
Foreign Direct Investment
In 2025, U.S. direct investment in Kuwait totaled approximately $290 million, while Kuwaiti direct investment in the United States amounted to about $1 billion. Kuwaiti-owned firms in the U.S. supported an estimated 9,400 jobs, with significant investments in research and development ($1.5 billion) and to expanding U.S. exports ($2 million). Key industry sectors for Kuwaiti FDI include transportation and chemicals.
CalChamber Resources
- American Business Council -AmCham, Kuwait
- American Business Council, Kuwait (LinkedIn)
- International Trade FAQs
Business
- Consulate General of Kuwait, Los Angeles
- U.S.-Kuwait Business Council, US Chamber
- Doing Business in Kuwait
- Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)