Minnesota’s global competitiveness is growing rapidly thanks to its established presence in markets in North America and Europe, initiatives in China and India, and growing business in emerging markets throughout the world. Minnesota's goods exports generated over $22 billion last year, supporting more than 750,000 good-paying Minnesotan jobs.

• In Minnesota, 752,100 jobs were supported by international trade in 2017, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2016, 8,116 companies exported goods from Minnesota of which 87% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2016, 119,700 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^2,3

• Minnesota exported $22.7 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2018. Minnesota's largest markets in 2018 were:⁴
  • Canada ($4.8 billion)
  • Mexico ($2.4 billion)
  • China ($2.3 billion)
  • Japan ($1.5 billion)
  • Germany ($1.1 million)
• Agricultural exports are important to Minnesota's' economy, totaling $6.9 billion in 2017, according to the USDA.⁵
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $785 million in exports from 116 companies in Minnesota.⁶
• Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation has invested $491 million in Minnesota companies for overseas investment.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $270 million in exports from Minnesota companies, supporting an estimated 1,500 jobs in the state.⁸

• In 2016-2017, 8,612 Minnesota students studied abroad.⁹
• During 2018, 15,695 international students were enrolled in Minnesota colleges and universities and contributed $474 million to the Minnesota economy.⁹

• Since 1961, 7,079 Peace Corps volunteers from Minnesota have served in dozens of countries overseas.¹⁰

1. https://tradepartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Trade-and-American-2019-FINAL.pdf
2. https://www.businessroundtable.org/benefits-of-trade-data
3. https://ustr.gov/map/state-benefits/al
4. https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/state/data/al.html
5. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets.aspx#.U2ERwbQzqX8
6. https://customermap.exim.gov/index.cfm
7. https://www.opic.gov/sites/default/files/docs/OPIC_local_impact.pdf
8. https://ustda.gov/ustda-success-state
9. https://www.iie.org/Research-and-Insights/Open-Doors/Fact-Sheets-and-Infographics/Data-by-State-Fact-Sheets
10. https://www.peacecorps.gov/news/library/peace-corps-announces-top-volunteer-producing-states-2018/