Market research

Ice cream market in the United States

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the US ice cream market volume stood at 2 476 thousand tons. The market contracted to 2 317 thousand tons in 2019.

A recovery followed in 2020, with volume reaching 2 472 thousand tons. Growth accelerated in 2021 to 2 770 thousand tons, a rise supported by expanded production capacity after The Ice Cream Factory purchased a large manufacturing facility in Missouri.

The market continued to expand in 2022, reaching 2 840 thousand tons. Through the period, the market evolved with the entry of new plant-based products, a strong premiumization trend, and the launch of health-conscious varieties like lactose-free and keto-friendly ice creams, alongside updated FDA nutrition labeling rules.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2022
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2022
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2022
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2022
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in the United States, 2018–2022
  1. 5.1.1. Production - total information
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production the United States in value, 2018–2022, M $ US
  3. 5.1.3. Annual dynamics of production the United States in kind, 2018–2022, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Global production by Country, :years
    1. 5.2.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country Kind, 2018-2023, K t
    2. 5.2.1.2. Structure of production by countries Kind, 2018-2023
    3. 5.2.1.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries Kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production ice cream in the United States

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

The United States held the top position globally for ice cream production from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of ice cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of ice cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, the United States produced 2,506 thousand tons of ice cream, marking a 6.2% increase from 2019. Production reached its lowest point in 2019 at 2,360 thousand tons, while the peak was in 2018 at 2,525 thousand tons. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 6.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in the United States in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.7%	(6.5%)	6.2%	(0.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of ice cream output in the United States was $8,786 million, reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year rise. From 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 13.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.4%. The largest decrease was in 2019, at 2.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.9%	(2.7%)	8.3%	4.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports ice cream from the United States

Exports in kind, t

Ice cream exports from the United States declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 72,536 tons, showing only a slight change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 5.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%. The highest export volume was in 2018 at 75,487 tons, while the largest decline of 3.6% occurred in 2019, and the biggest increase of 10.1% was also in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.1%	(3.6%)	(0.3%)	1.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, U.S. ice cream exports in volume were spread across many partner countries. Mexico accounted for 28.9% of exports, Australia for 9.0%, and Saudi Arabia for 8.2%, together making up 46.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Ice cream exports from the United States increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at $254.3 million, up 1.7% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value rose by 20.5%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 6.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	18.1%	0.3%	1.7%	6.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the value of U.S. ice cream exports was widely distributed among partner countries. Mexico represented 22.3% of export value, Australia 10.2%, and Saudi Arabia 9.6%, collectively accounting for 42.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the United States in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports ice cream to the United States

Imports in kind, t

Ice cream imports into the United States rose for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports reached 38,294 tons, a 30.8% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 65.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 18.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.4%	9.4%	30.8%	18.2%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Mexico was the leading source for U.S. ice cream imports by volume, with a 35.1% share, followed by Canada at 10.4% and South Korea at 9.5%. Together, these three countries accounted for 55.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of ice cream imports into the United States was $139.3 million, surging by 66.0% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value jumped by 108.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 27.7%. The largest decline was in 2019, at 3.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	29.8%	(3.4%)	66.0%	27.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, U.S. ice cream imports in value terms were sourced from a diverse range of countries. Canada contributed 11.4% of import value, South Korea 11.0%, and Italy 9.5%, together representing 31.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the United States in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io