U.S. State Exports by State: International Trade Rankings and Key Partners

U.S. state export data offer a detailed view of how individual states and territories connect to the global economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas ranks as the top exporting state, while the Northern Mariana Islands has the lowest export rank. These figures, based on the origin of movement of goods, reveal not only which states ship the most merchandise abroad but also which international partners are most important to each state’s economy.

Key Numbers

• Top exporting state: Texas
• Lowest exporting state/territory: Northern Mariana Islands
• Top importing state: California
• Lowest importing state/territory: American Samoa
• Data classification: Four-digit NAICS commodity codes
• Shipment detail: Total value, separate value, and shipping weight for air, vessel, and containerized vessel shipments
• Data series: Annual files from 2010 through the most recent release
• Key partners: Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom appear frequently as top destinations

Explanation

State export statistics measure the value of goods that begin their export journey from a particular U.S. state or territory. The Census Bureau calls this the origin of movement—the state where the merchandise starts its outbound movement, not necessarily where it was produced. This distinction matters because goods can be manufactured in one state, warehoused in another, and exported from a third.

The data are organized by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which groups exports into detailed commodity categories. For each state, the Census Bureau reports total value, separate value, and shipping weight for air, vessel, and containerized vessel shipments. This allows analysts to see not only how much states export but also how those goods move across borders.

Texas consistently leads the nation in goods exports, driven by energy products, chemicals, and electronics. California, New York, Louisiana, and Illinois also rank among the largest exporting states. At the other end, small territories such as the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa record very low export values. The sum of all state exports is lower than the national total because some goods cannot be assigned to a specific state of origin, and returned goods are handled separately.

Definition

In U.S. trade statistics, state exports refer to the value of domestic and foreign merchandise shipped from a U.S. state or territory to a foreign country. The key concept is origin of movement, which identifies the state where the goods begin their outbound journey. This is different from the state of production or the state where the exporter is headquartered.

The data are published by the U.S. Census Bureau using four-digit NAICS codes, which classify industries and products. For example, NAICS 3341 covers computer equipment, while NAICS 3361 covers motor vehicles. Each record includes the country of destination, total value, separate value, and shipping weight for air, vessel, and containerized vessel shipments.

Ranking Table

The following table shows the general order of leading exporting states based on recent Census Bureau releases. Exact dollar values are published annually and can vary with commodity prices and global demand.

This ranking reflects the broad pattern of U.S. goods exports, with energy-producing and manufacturing-heavy states near the top. The exact order can shift from year to year.

State Comparison

Texas and California together account for a large share of U.S. state exports, but their export profiles differ sharply. Texas is heavily oriented toward petroleum, natural gas, chemicals, and electronics, with Mexico and Canada as dominant partners. California exports a more diverse mix that includes computers, electronic products, agricultural goods, and transportation equipment, with strong ties to Mexico, Canada, and China.

Among smaller states, export values are much lower, but trade can still be significant relative to the size of the local economy. For example, Louisiana’s exports are concentrated in petroleum and chemicals, while Washington’s exports are led by aircraft. The Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa have the lowest export and import ranks, respectively, reflecting their small populations and limited industrial bases.

National Comparison

When state export figures are added together, the total is significantly lower than the official U.S. total exports reported in national trade statistics. The Census Bureau explains that this difference results from goods originating from states of origin, returned goods, and goods with unidentified states of origin. In other words, some exports cannot be cleanly assigned to a single state.

This national comparison is important for understanding the scope of state-level data. While state rankings are useful for identifying regional economic strengths, they do not capture every dollar of U.S. exports. Analysts should use state data alongside national totals to get a complete picture of U.S. trade.

Year-over-Year Change

State export values change from year to year because of shifts in commodity prices, exchange rates, global demand, and trade policy. For example, energy-exporting states such as Texas and Louisiana are sensitive to oil and natural gas prices, while manufacturing states such as Michigan and Ohio respond to changes in vehicle demand and supply chains.

The Census Bureau releases annual state export files, allowing users to compare year-over-year changes for each state and commodity. Although the exact percentage changes vary, the general pattern shows that states with diversified export bases tend to have more stable trade flows than those dependent on a single commodity.

Historical Data

The U.S. Census Bureau has published state export data by NAICS-based product for many years, with files available from 2010 through the most recent release. The St. Louis Fed’s FRED system also provides access to these series, including origin of movement tables and general imports by state of destination.

Historical data allow researchers to track long-term shifts in state export patterns. Over the past decade, the rise of energy exports has boosted states such as Texas and Louisiana, while the growth of e-commerce and technology trade has supported California and Washington. Trade agreements and tariffs have also influenced the direction of state exports, particularly with Canada, Mexico, and China.

Methodology

The Census Bureau compiles state export statistics from electronic export information filed through the Automated Export System (AES). Each shipment is assigned an origin of movement state, a four-digit NAICS commodity code, and a country of destination. The data include both domestic and foreign merchandise, meaning goods produced in the United States and goods that were previously imported and are being re-exported.

For each state and commodity, the Census Bureau reports total value, separate value, and shipping weight for air, vessel, and containerized vessel shipments. The separate value is the value of the goods themselves, excluding freight and insurance. This level of detail allows analysts to examine not only what is exported but also how it is transported.

Limitations of the Data

State export data have several limitations. First, the origin of movement may not reflect the state where the goods were actually produced. A product manufactured in Ohio but shipped from a warehouse in California would be recorded as a California export. Second, the sum of state exports is lower than the national total because some goods cannot be assigned to a specific state, and returned goods are excluded.

Third, the data cover goods only, not services. Many states, particularly those with large financial, technology, or tourism sectors, also export services, which are not included in these merchandise trade figures. Finally, small territories and states with low export values may have data that are less reliable or subject to suppression for confidentiality reasons.

Largest States

The largest exporting states are concentrated in energy production, manufacturing, and technology. Texas, California, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan, Washington, Florida, Ohio, and Georgia consistently appear near the top of state export rankings. These states benefit from large populations, major ports, and established industrial bases.

• Texas: Energy, chemicals, electronics
• California: Computers, electronics, agriculture
• New York: Diamonds, machinery, financial services
• Louisiana: Petroleum, chemicals, agricultural products
• Illinois: Machinery, vehicles, agricultural goods

Smallest States

The smallest exporting states and territories include the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. These jurisdictions have small populations, limited manufacturing capacity, and few large export industries. As a result, their merchandise export values are very low compared with major states.

Among the 50 states, smaller states such as Vermont, Wyoming, and North Dakota also tend to have lower export values, although Wyoming and North Dakota can see increases when energy prices rise. The Northern Mariana Islands has the lowest export rank, while American Samoa has the lowest import rank, according to 2024 data.

Why It Matters

State export data matter because exports support jobs, business revenue, and economic growth. When a state’s exports increase, it often means more production, higher employment, and greater income for workers and businesses. Export data also help state economic development agencies identify target industries and international markets.

For policymakers, state export rankings reveal which regions are most exposed to global trade risks, such as tariffs, supply chain disruptions, or changes in foreign demand. A state that depends heavily on exports to a single country may be more vulnerable than a state with diversified trade partners.

Factors Behind the Trend

Several factors influence state export trends. Commodity prices, especially for oil, natural gas, and agricultural products, have a direct impact on energy- and farm-exporting states. Exchange rates affect the competitiveness of U.S. goods in foreign markets. Trade agreements, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), shape the rules and tariffs that apply to state exports.

Global demand for technology, vehicles, and aircraft also drives exports from states such as California, Michigan, and Washington. Supply chain shifts, including nearshoring and reshoring, can change which states handle export shipments. Finally, infrastructure such as ports, railroads, and highways determines how efficiently goods can move from a state to international markets.

Source & Data Date

The primary source for this article is the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Exports NAICS (Origin of Movement) data product, which presents U.S. exports of domestic and foreign merchandise by state of origin of movement. The data include four-digit NAICS commodity codes, country of destination, total value, separate value, and shipping weight for air, vessel, and containerized vessel shipments. Annual files are available from 2010 through the most recent release, with 2024 and 2025 files listed on the Census Bureau website.

Additional context comes from the St. Louis Fed’s FRED release tables for U.S. Trade in Goods by State, and the Wikipedia list of U.S. states and territories by exports and imports, which summarizes 2024 rankings. The Strategic Culture infographic on each state’s number one export partner provides a visual overview of key international customers.