Alabama’s international engagement fuels job growth and increases exports. Alabama companies exported $25.6 billion in goods last year, which helped support more than 530,000 jobs in the state. The majority of companies that export from Alabama are small and medium sized businesses.

Job Creation

  • In Alabama, 530,100 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 19.4% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 4,105 companies exported goods from Alabama of which 80% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 116,900 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Alabama exported $20.9 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 22% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Germany ($4.3 billion)
    • Canada ($3.8 billion)
    • China ($3.2 billion)
    • Mexico ($2.8 billion)
    • Japan ($1 billion)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Alabama's' economy, totaling $1.6 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $419 million in exports from 53 companies in Alabama.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $237 million in exports from Alabama companies.9

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 8,138 international students were enrolled in Alabama colleges and universities and contributed $262 million to the Alabama economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 1,253 Peace Corps volunteers from Alabama have served in dozens of countries overseas.11