Delaware is home to some of America’s most important businesses, including DuPont, which drives the state’s chemical manufacturing industry. Exporters like this are growing Delaware’s economy, exporting $4.7 billion in goods, helping to support more than 128,000 jobs tied to international trade.

Job Creation

  • In Delaware, 128,300 jobs were supported by trade, representing 21.2% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2022, 2,174 companies exported goods from Delaware of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2021, 24,600 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Delaware exported $4.7 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 21% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy. Delaware’s largest markets in 2021 were:5
    • Canada ($592 million)
    • China ($556 million)
    • South Korea ($483 million)
    • Germany ($434 million)
    • Mexico ($262 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Delaware's economy, totaling $280 million in 2022, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $35 million in exports from 9 companies in Delaware.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $7 million in exports from Delaware companies.9

Education and Research

  • From 2022-2023, 6,342 international students were enrolled in Delaware colleges and universities and contributed $170 million to the Delaware economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 557 Peace Corps volunteers from Delaware have served in dozens of countries overseas.11