Arkansas exports about $10 billion in goods and services annually, with international trade supporting more than 310,000 jobs in the state. Arkansas has seen firsthand how engagement in the global economy can drive growth and create jobs. As a leading agricultural state, Arkansas exports $4.1 billion in agricultural products each year.

• In Arkansas, 310,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 2,167 companies exported goods from Arkansas, of which 78% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 61,100 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Arkansas exports about $10 billion in goods and services to overseas markets each year. ⁵
  • Canada ($1.9 billion)
  • Mexico ($1.4 billion)
  • China ($1.1 billion)
  • Japan ($559 million)
  • United Kingdom ($485 million)
• Agricultural exports are important to Arkansas's economy, totaling $4.1 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $404 million in exports from 32 companies in Arkansas.⁷

• From 2024-2025, 6,409 international students were enrolled in Arkansas colleges and universities, contributing $154 million to the Arkansas economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 876 Peace Corps volunteers from Arkansas 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/