As energy demand increases worldwide, West Virginia’s abundant natural resources are being exported across the globe, driving economic growth in the state. West Virginia exports are driving greater profits and new job opportunities every year. In fact, West Virginia's exports generated $6.7 billion annually, and international trade supports nearly 170,000 West Virginia jobs each year.

• In West Virginia, 170,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 917 companies exported goods from West Virginia, of which 76% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 30,600 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• West Virginia exported $6.7 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. ⁵
  • Canada ($2.2 billion)
  • China ($622 million)
  • Japan ($419 million)
  • Netherlands ($334 million)
  • Mexico ($325 million)
• Agricultural exports are important to West Virginia's economy, totaling $183 million annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $24 million in exports from 19 companies in West Virginia.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $4 million in exports from West Virginia companies.⁹

• From 2023-2024, 2,369 international students were enrolled in West Virginia colleges and universities, contributing $75 million to the West Virginia economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 688 Peace Corps volunteers from West Virginia 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/