Industries with the Biggest Decline in Exports in the US in 2025

1. Computer Peripheral Manufacturing in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -12.7%

The industry relies heavily on its performance in the international markets, since an overwhelming amount of downstream demand comes from exports. An appreciation of the US dollar during the current period has certainly depressed growth. As COVID loomed and US businesses closed, consumers were forced inside for the better part of a year. Further decreases in revenue were offset by consumers purchasing from the industry for personal entertainment purposes. Revenue ultimately increased at a CAGR of 0.6% to $14.3 billion over the five years to 2023, with an increase of 1.8% in 2023 alone as profit reached 4.3%.

Demand for computer... Learn More

2. Industrial Chocolate Production in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -8.3%

The Industrial Chocolate Production industry has experienced growth, despite volatility from fluctuating cocoa prices and challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry's production, which includes processed cocoa beans to manufacture cocoa products, including cocoa powder, liquor and butter, is largely destined for chocolate confectionery producers, although bakers and dairy beverage producers also buy cocoa products to infuse into their foods. In recent years, fluctuations in cocoa prices have been offset by improving disposable incomes and greater demand for premium chocolate goods. Despite an added emphasis on health consciousness by American consumers and challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic that... Learn More

3. Employment & Recruiting Agencies in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -5.9%

The Employment and Recruiting Agencies industry places job-seekers in available positions, taking commissions from client businesses that seek capable employees. Despite a collapsing labor market in 2020, employment agency revenue expanded at a CAGR of 3.6% in the past five years, while falling 0.5% to reach $32.0 billion in 2023. The transition to online work lowers costs and supports profit after 2020.

Sales depend on the economy's labor usage and turnover rates. The national unemployment rate shot up in 2020, reflecting poor economic conditions. Technological developments also significantly affect the industry, with online job boards creating opportunities for new companies. Remote... Learn More

4. Newsprint Manufacturing in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -5.9%

The industry produces newsprint, a type of paper packaged in long rolls for use in printing presses. Newspapers and advertisements are most commonly printed on newsprint paper, which is primarily composed of wood pulp. The shift to digital platforms has significantly affected the newsprint industry, with demand for traditional print media plummeting and COVID-19 accelerating the push toward digitalization. Trade tensions and tariffs, notably between the US and Canada, have impacted the industry, increasing costs and affecting imported newsprint availability, causing uncertainty for future operations. Alongside these challenges, companies have had to navigate supply chain disruptions and form flexible strategies... Learn More

5. Paper Mills in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -5.3%

The Paper Mills industry, which produces a range of communication papers and personal care products, has contended with many obstacles to success. Rising foreign competition from industry frontrunners and developing economies – which can produce and export at lower costs – plus a persistent decline in downstream demand for paper and paper products have hindered the industry in recent years. Due to these ongoing factors, industry-wide revenue shrunk at a CAGR of 4.0% to $36.1 billion over the past five years, including a decrease of 0.2% in 2023 even as the economy recovers from the pandemic.

Major industry operators have had... Learn More

6. Ferrous Metal Foundry Products in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -5.2%

An array of downstream industries in the manufacturing and construction sectors use ferrous metal foundry products. These markets have strengthened at the start of the current period as strong consumer spending and an accommodative lending environment encouraged industrial activity. Fluctuating raw material prices, though, have contributed to a rising level of revenue volatility. Also, the industry has recently struggled to maintain growth and profit during the systematic shock to economic activity and global trade stemming from the pandemic. Overall, the industry will weaken at a CAGR of 4.2% to an expected $17.6 billion through 2023. Rising interest rates will keep... Learn More

7. Printing Services in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -4.4%

Printing services have declined markedly over the past few years as demand for print media has fallen. The industry provides prepress work such as typesetting, trade binding, mounting and print-plate creation. Demand for printing services is highly correlated with the performance of the Printing industry (IBISWorld report 32311) and demand for book, newspaper and magazine publishing, both of which faced similar periods of decline. This contraction occurred due to the fast-growing popularity of online media, causing many companies to reduce print advertising expenditures. These factors were exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Over the past five years, printing... Learn More

8. Dental Laboratories in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -4.2%

Technological changes in the Dental Laboratories industry, specifically computer-aided design and manufacturing systems, have improved the overall quality of products and services offered by dental laboratories over the past five years. At the same time, a transforming competitive landscape and COVID-19 have presented new challenges. Industry revenue declined 8.3% in 2020 amid social distancing measures, followed by a historically high revenue expansion in 2021 as people returned to their normal lives. Overall, industry revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 2.1% to $6.9 billion over the past five years, including a 1.8% decline in 2023 alone, while profit... Learn More

9. Soybean Farming in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -4.2%

The Soybean Farming industry is historically volatile. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, industry revenue had declined because of falling exports to China. In 2018, the US and China entered a trade war brought on by the US imposing tariffs on Chinese steel. The Chinese government responded by placing significant tariffs on US soybeans. China has historically been a major importer of soybeans, so these tariffs resulted in revenue declines for industry growers. However, in 2020, exports of soybeans surged as global supply chain disruptions increased demand for soybeans in other countries. Meanwhile, as the US economy moved beyond the pandemic in... Learn More

10. Telecommunication Networking Equipment Manufacturing in the US

Decline in Exports for 2025: -4.1%

The Telecommunications Networking Equipment Manufacturing industry produces wired telecommunication equipment including network switches, routers, modems and gateways. This industry has experienced consistent declines in revenue over the years to 2023 despite an increasing number of broadband connections and a rising number of consumers that have acquired computers. Domestic demand for telecommunication network equipment products has greatly declined in the period, with a significant amount of demand satisfied by imports. The industry also experienced significant declines in revenue in 2020 because of volatility in the global economic environment brought on by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Revenue has plummeted, declining at a... Learn More