As the shipping gateway from the Mississippi, Louisiana benefits not only from its own exports but also from its role as a main port for billions of dollars in goods and services from across the country. Louisiana exports $88 billion worth of goods and services to international markets annually, which helps support more than 560,000 good-paying Louisiana jobs

• In Louisiana, 560,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 3,508 companies exported goods from Louisiana, of which 85% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 80,400 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Louisiana exported $88 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. ⁵
  • China ($6.9 billion)
  • Netherlands ($6.9 billion)
  • Canada ($6.2 billion)
  • United Kingdom ($6.0 billion)
  • Mexico ($5.3 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to Louisiana's economy, totaling $1.8 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $1 billion in exports from 121 companies in Louisiana.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $221 million in exports from Louisiana companies.⁹

• From 2023-2024, 6,891 international students were enrolled in Louisiana colleges and universities, contributing $265 million to the Louisiana economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 1,224 Peace Corps volunteers from Louisiana 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/