Alaska’s bountiful natural resources drive $5.2 billion in exports and trade, which support nearly 93,000 jobs in the state. While Alaska’s world-renowned seafood drives over half of all its exports, Alaska’s plentiful oil, gas, timber, and precious metals are also in high demand around the world.

Job Creation

  • In Alaska, 92,700 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 20.2% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 807 companies exported goods from Alaska of which 73% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 13,600 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Alaska exported $5.2 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2023. Alaska’s largest markets were:5
    • China ($1.2 billion)
    • Japan ($709.8 million)
    • South Korea ($702.1 million)
    • Australia ($602.4 million)
    • Canada ($596.3 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Alaska's' economy, totaling $20.6 million in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $13 million in exports from 1 companies in Alaska.7

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 290 international students were enrolled in Alaska colleges and universities and contributed $9.8 million to the Alaska economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 1,052 Peace Corps volunteers from Alaska have served in dozens of countries overseas.11