South Dakota’s international engagement fuels job growth and increases exports. South Dakota companies export about $6.2 billion worth of goods and services annually, with trade supporting more than 110,000 jobs in the state. The majority of companies that export from South Dakota are also small- and medium- sized businesses.

• In South Dakota, 110,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 940 companies exported goods from South Dakota, of which 80% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 14,100 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• South Dakota exported $6.2 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. ⁵
  • Canada ($1.2 billion)
  • China ($1.1 billion)
  • Mexico ($728 million)
  • Japan ($375 million)
  • United Kingdom ($277 million)
• Agricultural exports are important to South Dakota's economy, totaling $4.6 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $17 million in exports from 14 companies in South Dakota.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $57 million in exports from South Dakota companies.⁹

• From 2023-2024, 2,348 international students were enrolled in South Dakota colleges and universities, contributing $55 million to the South Dakota economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 623 Peace Corps volunteers from South Dakota 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/