Tennessee exports a huge range of goods, from manufactured goods like automobiles and electronics to chemicals and its world-famous whiskey. In 2018, Tennessee exported a total of $33 billion worth of these goods, helping to support more than 800,000 jobs in the state. Over 80% of Tennessee companies that export their products are also small or medium sized businesses.

• In Tennessee, 806,100 jobs were supported by international trade in 2017, representing 20.1% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2016, 6,961 companies exported goods from Tennessee of which 82% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2016, 177,100 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^2,3

• Tennessee exported $32.7 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2018. Tennessee's largest markets in 2018 were:⁴
  • Canada ($7.8 billion)
  • Mexico ($4.9 billion)
  • China ($2.5 billion)
  • Japan ($1.9 billion)
  • Netherlands ($1.4 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to Tennessee's' economy, totaling $1.5 billion in 2017, according to the USDA.⁵
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $949 million in exports from 63 companies in Tennessee.⁶
• Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation has invested $124 million in Tennessee companies for overseas investment.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $19.6 million in exports from Tennessee companies, supporting an estimated 100 jobs in the state.⁸

• In 2016-2017, 7,099 Tennessee students studied abroad.⁹
• During 2018, 8,870 international students were enrolled in Tennessee colleges and universities and contributed $324 million to the Tennessee economy.⁹

• Since 1961, 1,973 Peace Corps volunteers from Tennessee 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/