Delaware is home to some of America’s most important businesses, including DuPont, which drives the state’s chemical manufacturing industry. Exporters like this are growing Delaware’s economy, exporting $5.2 billion in goods, helping to support more than 128,000 jobs tied to international trade.

Job Creation

  • In Delaware, 128,300 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 21.2% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 2,174 companies exported goods from Delaware of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 24,900 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Delaware exported $4.7 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 21% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Canada ($725 million)
    • South Korea ($643 million)
    • China ($498 million)
    • Singapore ($445 million)
    • Japan ($404 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Delaware's' economy, totaling $326 million in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $35 million in exports from 9 companies in Delaware.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $7 million in exports from Delaware companies.9

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 3,046 international students were enrolled in Delaware colleges and universities and contributed $87 million to the Delaware economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 557 Peace Corps volunteers from Delaware have served in dozens of countries overseas.11