Exports are an important economic driver in New Jersey, with 92% of New Jersey’s 19,000 exporting companies being small or medium sized businesses. New Jersey’s ports make it a prime location for international trade, which helps support more than 1.2 million jobs in the state and $46.3 billion in exported goods.

Job Creation

  • In New Jersey, 1,204,700 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 21.4% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 19,430 companies exported goods from New Jersey of which 92% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 288,300 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • New Jersey exported $49.5 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 30% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Canada ($10 billion)
    • Mexico ($3.4 billion)
    • Japan ($3.2 billion)
    • China ($3.1 billion)
    • United Kingdom ($2.8 billion)
  • Agricultural exports are important to New Jersey's' economy, totaling $757 million in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $4 billion in exports from 156 companies in New Jersey.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $2.9 billion in exports from New Jersey companies.9

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 18,946 international students were enrolled in New Jersey colleges and universities and contributed $700 million to the New Jersey economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 5,417 Peace Corps volunteers from New Jersey have served in dozens of countries overseas.11