Arkansas exports about $10 billion in goods and services annually, with international trade supporting more than 310,000 jobs in the state. As the headquarters for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Arkansas has seen firsthand how engagement in the global economy can drive growth and create jobs.

• 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, 58,500 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Arkansas exported $10 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. 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 $4.3 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $394 million in exports from 31 companies in Arkansas.⁷

• From 2023-2024, 5,776 international students were enrolled in Arkansas colleges and universities, contributing $147 million to the Arkansas economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 869 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/