Kentucky has recently grown its share of global exports, exporting $46 billion in goods and services to foreign markets annually, largely on the strength of its transportation equipment and chemical industries. Exports of Kentucky’s renowned livestock and world-famous bourbon distilleries generate millions of dollars in profits and thousands of jobs. In fact, international trade supports more than 480,000 jobs in the state.

• In Kentucky, 480,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 4,637 companies exported goods from Kentucky, of which 79% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 149,500 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Kentucky exported $46 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. ⁵
  • Canada ($9.6 billion)
  • United Kingdom ($4.2 billion)
  • Mexico ($4.1 billion)
  • France ($3.8 billion)
  • China ($3.5 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to Kentucky's economy, totaling $3.0 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $1 billion in exports from 36 companies in Kentucky.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $36 million in exports from Kentucky companies.⁹

• From 2023-2024, 10,050 international students were enrolled in Kentucky colleges and universities, contributing $311 million to the Kentucky economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 1,705 Peace Corps volunteers from Kentucky 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/