Mississippi: Facts and Figures

Exports of Mississippi-made products come from a broad range of categories, including petroleum and coal, transportation equipment, and computer and electronic products. In fact, nearly 2,000 Mississippi companies exported $12.9 billion worth of goods in 2021, including to developing countries like Panama. Overall, international trade supports more than 310,000 jobs in the state.

Job Creation

  • In Mississippi, 310,200 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 19.2% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 1,950 companies exported goods from Mississippi of which 75% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 45,500 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Mississippi exported $12.9 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 25% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Canada ($2.3 billion)
    • Mexico ($1.7 billion)
    • Panama ($1.1 billion)
    • China ($738 million)
    • Belgium ($700 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Mississippi's' economy, totaling $2.2 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $297 million in exports from 19 companies in Mississippi.7
  • Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation - which has been modernized into the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) - has invested $13 million in Mississippi companies for overseas investment.8
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $22 million in exports from Mississippi companies.9

Education and Research

  • In 2018-2019, 1,554 Mississippi students studied abroad.10
  • During 2020, 3,361 international students were enrolled in Mississippi colleges and universities and contributed $82 million to the Mississippi economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 538 Peace Corps volunteers from Mississippi have served in dozens of countries overseas.11