Connecticut benefits greatly from exports, sending $30 billion in goods and services to overseas markets annually. International trade supports more than 480,000 jobs in the state, with 5,237 businesses exporting – 87% of which are small and medium sized companies.

• In Connecticut, 480,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 5,237 companies exported goods from Connecticut, of which 87% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 115,600 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Connecticut exports about $30 billion in goods and services to overseas markets each year. ⁵
  • Canada ($3.1 billion)
  • UK Caribbean Islands ($2.7 billion)
  • Germany ($2.5 billion)
  • United Kingdom ($2.4 billion)
  • China ($1.5 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to Connecticut's economy, totaling $301 million annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $2 billion in exports from 61 companies in Connecticut.⁷
• The Millennium Challenge Corporation has provided $15.9 million in funding to Connecticut organizations since the agency's inception in 2004.⁸

• From 2024-2025, 21,865 international students were enrolled in Connecticut colleges and universities, contributing $748 million to the Connecticut economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 3,853 Peace Corps volunteers from Connecticut 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/