South Carolina’s exports reach across the globe, totaling $45 billion worth of goods and services annually. Top export markets include China, Germany, Canada, and Mexico, with South Carolina’s manufacturing prowess in vehicles and machinery driving these exports. Its coastal location and ports help to fuel export growth and international business opportunities. More than 580,000 jobs in South Carolina are also supported by international trade, with new jobs created every day.

• In South Carolina, 580,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 6,261 companies exported goods from South Carolina, of which 84% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 184,900 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• South Carolina exported $45 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. ⁵
  • Germany ($5.3 billion)
  • Canada ($5.2 billion)
  • China ($4.3 billion)
  • Mexico ($3.5 billion)
  • Belgium ($2.0 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to South Carolina's economy, totaling $1.1 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $9 billion in exports from 67 companies in South Carolina.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $63 million in exports from South Carolina companies.⁹

• From 2023-2024, 6,576 international students were enrolled in South Carolina colleges and universities, contributing $201 million to the South Carolina economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 1,804 Peace Corps volunteers from South Carolina 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/