Colorado’s central location within the U.S., its supportive business climate and highly trained workforce, and the broad array of local products make exports an ideal path to economic growth. Colorado businesses currently export over $10.0 billion worth of goods annually. Overall, Colorado’s international engagement supports more than 820,000 jobs in the state.

Job Creation

  • In Colorado, 820,200 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 20.8% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 5,481 companies exported goods from Colorado of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 122,000 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Colorado exported $9.1 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, an 11% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Canada ($1.7 billion)
    • Mexico ($1.4 billion)
    • China ($917 million)
    • South Korea ($761 million)
    • Switzerland ($727 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Colorado's' economy, totaling $2.2 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $757 million in exports from 72 companies in Colorado.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $152 million in exports from Colorado companies.9

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 9,355 international students were enrolled in Colorado colleges and universities and contributed $322 million to the Colorado economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 7,615 Peace Corps volunteers from Colorado have served in dozens of countries overseas.11