Major Imports to the State of Utah

What Utah Imports: Feeding the Beehive State's Economy

Utah's landlocked position and specialized economy drive significant imports. Data reflects goods entering Utah for consumption or further processing (not transshipment).

Top Import Categories (by Value)

1. Computer & Electronic Products

• Why: "Silicon Slopes" (Lehi, Draper, SLC) – Adobe, Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry, eBay, Microsoft, Oracle campuses.
• Goods: Semiconductors, servers, networking gear, components, consumer electronics.
• Sources: Asia (Taiwan, Korea, China, Malaysia), California, Texas.

2. Transportation Equipment

• Motor vehicles: Cars, trucks, SUVs (no auto assembly in UT; dealers import).
• Aerospace parts: Hill AFB, Northrop Grumman, Boeing suppliers – avionics, composites.
• Rail equipment: Union Pacific hub in Salt Lake.

3. Machinery & Industrial Equipment

• Mining machinery (Bingham Canyon – Rio Tinto), construction, manufacturing (medical devices, outdoor gear).
• CNC machines, robotics, HVAC, pumps, valves.

4. Petroleum & Refined Fuels

• No crude production in UT; 5 refineries (Salt Lake, Woods Cross) process domestic/Canadian crude.
• Imports: Refined products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel) via pipeline (Chevron, Tesoro, Sinclair) from WY, CO, MT, CA.

5. Medical Devices & Pharmaceuticals

• Major hub: Edwards Lifesciences, BD, Merit Medical, BioFire, Nelson Labs.
• Imports: Precision components, raw materials, sterile packaging, APIs.

6. Agricultural Products

• Short growing season, arid climate → imports: fruits (citrus, berries), vegetables (leafy, tomatoes), nuts (almonds, pistachios), coffee, spices, tropical.
• Sources: California, Arizona, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Washington.

7. Consumer Goods & Retail

• Apparel, footwear, furniture, appliances, plastics – via West Coast ports (LA/LB, Oakland) → rail/truck to UT.

Trade Infrastructure

• Inland Port (Salt Lake): Union Pacific intermodal – direct rail to LA/LB (3 days).
• Foreign-Trade Zone #30: Salt Lake City – duty deferral/reduction.
• I-15 Corridor: Primary north-south truck artery.

Data Sources

• USA Trade Online (Census) – state-level import estimates (HS codes).
• UT Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity – industry reports.