Washington’s economy is deeply connected to global markets. In addition to timber and agricultural exports, one of the busiest ports on the West Coast in Seattle helps Washington exports reach every corner of the globe. These exports generate $83 billion and help support over 930,000 good-paying Washington jobs.

• In Washington, 930,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 11,202 companies exported goods from Washington, of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 158,000 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Washington exports about $83 billion in goods and services to overseas markets each year. ⁵
  • Canada ($10.8 billion)
  • Ireland ($7.4 billion)
  • China ($5.5 billion)
  • Japan ($5.4 billion)
  • Mexico ($4.7 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to Washington's economy, totaling $3.9 billion annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $43 billion in exports from 146 companies in Washington.⁷
• The Millennium Challenge Corporation has provided $1.7 million in funding to Washington organizations since the agency's inception in 2004.⁸

• From 2024-2025, 24,640 international students were enrolled in Washington colleges and universities, contributing $950 million to the Washington economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 10,142 Peace Corps volunteers from Washington 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/