Ice water

International sales for water and ice exports from all countries totaled US$1.35 billion in 2025.

The overall value of exported water and ice rose by an average 8.8% for all exporting countries from $1.24 billion from five years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the value of globally exported water and ice recorded a 1.9% increase compared to $1.33 billion during 2024.

Five major exporters of water and ice were mainland China, United States of America, France, Türkiye and Thailand in 2025. Combined, that leading cohort generated just over three-quarters (75.8%) of worldwide shipments of water and ice by dollar value.

Among continents, suppliers located in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported water and ice during 2025 with shipments valued at $884.5 million or 65.5% of the global total. In second place were exporters based in Europe at 23.9% while another 8.6% of worldwide water and ice shipments originated from North America.

Smaller percentages were furnished by providers in Latin America (1.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (0.4%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then suppliers in Africa (0.2%).

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 220190 for ice, snow and ordinary natural water. Commodities under this sub-code exclude sugar, other sweeteners or flavorings.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of water and ice during 2025.

1. mainland China: US$726.3 million (53.7% of total water/ice exports)
2. United States: $104.3 million (7.7%)
3. France: $94.9 million (7%)
4. Türkiye: $55.3 million (4.1%)
5. Thailand: $43.2 million (3.2%)
6. Norway: $36.6 million (2.7%)
7. Malaysia: $31.5 million (2.3%)
8. Germany: $29.7 million (2.2%)
9. Belgium: $28.1 million (2.1%)
10. Netherlands: $25 million (1.9%)
11. Iceland: $19.1 million (1.4%)
12. Spain: $16.4 million (1.2%)
13. Italy: $12.6 million (0.9%)
14. United Kingdom: $11.4 million (0.8%)
15. Canada: $11.1 million (0.8%)

Countries Earning Best Trade Surpluses from Water and Ice

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for water and ice during 2025. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported water and ice and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. mainland China: US$704.1 million (net export surplus up 3.6% since 2024)
2. France: $78.6 million (up 8.8%)
3. Türkiye: $54.8 million (up 1.6%)
4. Thailand: $42.2 million (down -23.6%)
5. Norway: $34.2 million (up 5.2%)
6. Malaysia: $29.8 million (up 12.3%)
7. Iceland: $18.8 million (down -28.5%)
8. Spain: $11.6 million (up 76.5%)
9. Italy: $9.5 million (up 7.7%)
10. Greece: $6.4 million (up 83.8%)
11. Trinidad/Tobago: $5.7 million (down -8.6%)
12. Kazakhstan: $4.8 million (up 1257.3%)
13. Guatemala: $4.03 million (down -6.3%)
14. Germany: $4.02 million (down -79.5%)
15. Czech Republic: $3.9 million (down -18.3%)

Mainland China generated the highest surplus in the international trade of water and ice. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms China’s competitive advantage for this specific product category.

Countries Facing Worst Trade Deficits from Water and Ice

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for water and ice during 2025. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported water and ice purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. Hong Kong: -US$675.2 million (net export deficit up 2.6% since 2024)
2. United States: -$210.1 million (down -9.2%)
3. Netherlands: -$50.7 million (down -15%)
4. Macao: -$40.7 million (down -3.2%)
5. Mexico: -$32.9 million (down -27.4%)
6. Singapore: -$32 million (up 2%)
7. Belgium: -$31.8 million (up 7.2%)
8. United Kingdom: -$28.3 million (up 46.3%)
9. Canada: -$24 million (up 25%)
10. Bulgaria: -$11 million (up 0.8%)
11. Bahamas: -$10.3 million (up 3.3%)
12. United Arab Emirates: -$8.2 million (up 96%)
13. Japan: -$6.1 million (down -13.1%)
14. Luxembourg: -$6.1 million (up 23%)
15. Jordan: -$5.6 million (up 2053.9%)

Hong Kong incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of water and ice. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights Hong Kong’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for water and ice-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand.

Ice Maker Machinery Exporters

According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following companies manufacture ice-making machinery available for international sales. The home-country country for each business is shown within parentheses.

• Dongguan Hengxing Kitchen Equipment Co, Ltd (China)
• Hangzhou Icedeer Refrigeration Equipment Co, Ltd (China)
• IKLIM Hardward & Machinery SDN BHD (Malaysia)
• Rosen Ice Machines & Refrigeration Systems (Turkey)
• Shenzhen Sindeice Systems Co, Ltd (China)
• Soluzioni e Referenze Srls (Italy)
• US Ice Machine Manufacturing Co (United States)