Montana’s chemicals, machinery and agricultural sectors drive its exports, which total $4 billion annually. With nearly 1,600 companies in the state exporting goods, Montana's top markets include nations such as South Korea, China, and Japan. International trade supports over 140,000 jobs in the state.

• In Montana, 140,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 1,597 companies exported goods from Montana, of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 11,000 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Montana exports about $4 billion in goods and services to overseas markets each year. ⁵
  • Canada ($1.1 billion)
  • Korea ($261 million)
  • Japan ($246 million)
  • China ($216 million)
  • Mexico ($190 million)
• Agricultural exports are important to Montana's economy, totaling $1.5 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $82 million in exports from 16 companies in Montana.⁷

• From 2024-2025, 940 international students were enrolled in Montana colleges and universities, contributing $31 million to the Montana economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 1,586 Peace Corps volunteers from Montana have served in dozens of countries overseas.¹¹

1. https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade-agreements/trade-means-growth-for-america?state=
2. https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/edb/edbrel2023.pdf
3. https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/imne-1124.pdf
4. https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade-agreements/trade-means-growth-for-america
5. https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/state-trade-and-economy-factsheets
6. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-agricultural-trade-data
7. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-agricultural-trade-data/annual-state-agricultural-exports
8. https://www.exim.gov/customer-map/
9. https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/contracts-map
10. https://files.peacecorps.gov/documents/Home_states_of_Peace_Corps_volunteers.pdf
11. https://opendoorsdata.org/fact_sheets/state-fact-sheets/