Mapped: The Top Export in Every U.S. State (2025)
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Key Takeaways
- Aircraft is the top export in 13 states—the most of any category.
- Tech leads the West, while energy dominates much of the South.
- Pharmaceuticals are the top export in six states, concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest.
America’s $2.1 trillion export economy isn’t powered by a single industry—it’s a patchwork of 50 specialized engines.
This map shows the top international goods export for every U.S. state, based on data from the U.S. International Trade Administration. From aircraft in Washington to oil and gas in Texas, each state specializes in a different piece of the global economy.
Notably, over half of U.S. states are tied to strategic sectors like aerospace, semiconductors, and energy—industries increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions and supply chain shifts.
The Industries Driving U.S. Exports by State
Aircraft is the most widespread top export, leading in 13 states across the country.
Aerospace and defense is the only U.S. manufacturing sector with a net trade surplus, fueling almost $1 trillion in economic activity annually. In states like Washington and Florida, it ranks as the largest export category overall.
Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the top export category in 2025, based on NAICS-4 classifications:
| State | Top Export 2025 | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Connecticut | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Florida | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Georgia | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Hawaii | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Kansas | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Kentucky | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Maine | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Maryland | Aircraft | Transportation |
| New Hampshire | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Ohio | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Oklahoma | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Washington | Aircraft | Transportation |
| Delaware | Medicine | Medical |
| Illinois | Medicine | Medical |
| Indiana | Medicine | Medical |
| Massachusetts | Medicine | Medical |
| North Carolina | Medicine | Medical |
| Pennsylvania | Medicine | Medical |
| Rhode Island | Medicine | Medical |
| Alabama | Vehicles | Transportation |
| Michigan | Vehicles | Transportation |
| Missouri | Vehicles | Transportation |
| South Carolina | Vehicles | Transportation |
| West Virginia | Vehicles | Transportation |
| Nevada | Primary Metals | Industrial |
| New Jersey | Primary Metals | Industrial |
| New York | Primary Metals | Industrial |
| Utah | Primary Metals | Industrial |
| Idaho | Semiconductors | Tech |
| New Mexico | Semiconductors | Tech |
| Oregon | Semiconductors | Tech |
| Vermont | Semiconductors | Tech |
| Arizona | IT Hardware | Tech |
| California | IT Hardware | Tech |
| Wisconsin | IT Hardware | Tech |
| Mississippi | Refining | Energy |
| North Dakota | Refining | Energy |
| Virginia | Refining | Energy |
| South Dakota | Chemicals | Industrial |
| Wyoming | Chemicals | Industrial |
| Louisiana | Oil & Gas | Energy |
| Texas | Oil & Gas | Energy |
| Colorado | Meatpacking | Agriculture |
| Nebraska | Meatpacking | Agriculture |
| Minnesota | Medical Devices | Medical |
| Tennessee | Medical Devices | Medical |
| Montana | Cattle | Agriculture |
| Alaska | Fishing | Agriculture |
| Iowa | Machinery | Industrial |
Semiconductors and Tech Anchor the West
Semiconductors dominate exports across parts of the West, including New Mexico and Oregon—highlighting the growing importance of domestic chip manufacturing. Semiconductors made up 46% of New Mexico’s exports, totaling $7 billion in 2025. In Oregon, they were valued at more than $9 billion.
In California and Arizona, IT hardware and computer equipment are leading exports, reinforcing the region’s central role in global tech supply chains.
These states are increasingly critical to U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on foreign chip production, especially amid rising competition with China.
Biotech and Pharmaceuticals Power the Northeast and Midwest
Pharmaceuticals are the top export in six states, driven by dense R&D ecosystems in the Northeast and Midwest.
Massachusetts alone hosts more than 1,000 life sciences companies, making it a global hub for drug development and production. Indiana, meanwhile, is home to Eli Lilly’s global headquarters, with over 13,000 employees in Indianapolis alone.
This concentration of talent, capital, and research institutions continues to fuel high-value medical exports across the region.
America’s Energy Export Powerhouse in the South
The U.S. energy export boom is concentrated in the South, where a tightly integrated network of production, processing, and shipping powers global supply.
Texas anchors the system with $137 billion in oil and gas exports, while Louisiana’s ports and natural gas output connect U.S. energy to global markets. Neighboring Mississippi plays a key role in refining, turning raw inputs into export-ready fuels.
As global energy markets tighten, this regional dominance is becoming more important. In April, U.S. crude and petroleum exports surged to a record 12.9 million barrels per day, driven by conflict in the Middle East.
Why This Matters
From aerospace hubs to semiconductor corridors and energy strongholds, America’s export economy is deeply regional—and increasingly strategic.
As global trade becomes more fragmented and geopolitics reshape supply chains, the industries dominating each state today could play an outsized role in shaping the country’s economic resilience looking ahead.
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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the share of U.S. exports by state in 2025.
