Visualizing The Major Product Exported By Each US State

The U.S. is the second biggest exporter in the world, accounting for over 8% of global exports.

In this graphic by NeoMam Studios, Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti analyzes the primary product exported by each state, as well as its main destination, utilizing data from the U.S. International Trade Administration.

Canada: The Primary Destination

Canada serves as the largest export market for most of the Midwest, while Mexico holds the top spot as the export destination for much of the Southwest and Southeast. Additionally, Canada stands out as the primary importer of products from 21 states, with China and Germany trailing behind as notable destinations.

State	Destination	Top Product Exported	Value (USD)
Alabama	🇩🇪 Germany	Transportation equip.	$3,649M
Alaska	🇨🇦 Canada	Minerals	$576M
Arizona	🇲🇽 Mexico	Minerals	$1,760M
Arkansas	🇨🇦 Canada	Processed Foods	$246M
California	🇨🇦 Canada	Computer & Electronics	$5,093M
Colorado	🇰🇷 South Korea	Processed Foods	$545M
Connecticut	🇩🇪 Germany	Transportation equip.	$1,581M
Delaware	🇰🇷 South Korea	Appliances	$419M
Florida	🇬🇧 UK	Chemicals	$2,447M
Georgia	🇨🇦 Canada	Machinery	$1,629M
Hawaii	🇭🇰 Hong Kong	Transportation equip.	$68M
Idaho	🇹🇼 Taiwan	Computer & Electronics	$394M
Illinois	🇨🇦 Canada	Transportation equip.	$4,517M
Indiana	🇨🇦 Canada	Transportation equip.	$6,561M
Iowa	🇨🇦 Canada	Machinery	$1,598M
Kansas	🇲🇽 Mexico	Agricultural	$1,543M
Kentucky	🇨🇦 Canada	Transportation equip.	$3,630M
Louisiana	🇨🇳 China	Agricultural	$11,300M
Maine	🇨🇦 Canada	Oil & Gas	$504M
Maryland	🇫🇷 France	Transportation equip.	$949M
Massachusetts	🇨🇳 China	Machinery	$1,298M
Michigan	🇨🇳 China	Transportation equip.	$15,361M
Minnesota	🇨🇦 Canada	Petroleum & Coal	$2,787M
Mississippi	🇵🇦 Panama	Petroleum & Coal	$2,106M
Missouri	🇨🇦 Canada	Transportation equip.	$2,390M
Montana	🇨🇦 Canada	Minerals	$153M
Nebraska	🇲🇽 Mexico	Agricultural	$933M
Nevada	🇨🇭 Switzerland	Metal	$1,399M
New Hampshire	🇩🇪 Germany	Transportation equip.	$695M
New Jersey	🇨🇦 Canada	Chemicals	$2,734M
New Mexico	🇲🇽 Mexico	Computer & Electronics	$2,014M
New York	🇨🇭 Switzerland	Metal	$18,262M
North Carolina	🇨🇳 China	Chemicals	$4,312M
North Dakota	🇨🇦 Canada	Petroleum & Coal	$1,441M
Ohio	🇨🇦 Canada	Transportation equip.	$5,990M
Oklahoma	🇨🇦 Canada	Machinery	$418M
Oregon	🇨🇳 China	Computer & Electronics	$6,261M
Pennsylvania	🇨🇦 Canada	Chemicals	$2,280M
Rhode Island	🇮🇹 Italy	Waste & Scrap	$321M
South Carolina	🇩🇪 Germany	Transportation equip.	$3,774M
South Dakota	🇨🇦 Canada	Processed Foods	$297M
Tennessee	🇨🇦 Canada	Transportation equip.	$2,017M
Texas	🇲🇽 Mexico	Petroleum & Coal	$33,627M
Utah	🇬🇧 UK	Metal	$6,805M
Vermont	🇹🇼 Taiwan	Computer & Electronics	$447M
Virginia	🇮🇳 India	Minerals	$1,799M
Washington	🇨🇳 China	Agricultural	$10,553M
West Virginia	🇮🇳 India	Minerals	$657M
Wisconsin	🇨🇦 Canada	Machinery	$1,802M
Wyoming	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Chemicals	$200M

When it comes to the types of exports, transportation equipment emerges as the primary source for the majority of states, with minerals and ores, chemicals, and computer and electronics following closely behind.

For instance, North Carolina ships $4.3 billion worth of chemicals to China, marking one of the longest-distance trade flows among states. Meanwhile, Florida boasts one of the most diverse export portfolios, engaging in trade with Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.

Louisiana heavily relies on the export of agricultural products to China, which contributes significantly to its total GDP. Similarly, Michigan’s transportation equipment exports to Canada constitute a noteworthy portion of the state’s GDP.

In Oregon, exports of semiconductors and other computer parts to China, driven by companies like Intel and Micron, play a crucial role in the state’s economy. Meanwhile, Utah predominantly exports primary metal manufacturing goods to the United Kingdom.

The biggest exporter in the country, Texas, sees a significant portion of its GDP attributed to exports to Mexico, further underlining the state’s economic ties with its southern neighbor.