Exports of Mississippi-made products come from a broad range of categories, including petroleum and coal, transportation equipment, and computer and electronic products. In fact, nearly 2,000 Mississippi companies exported $14.3 billion worth of goods in 2023, including to developing countries like Panama. Overall, international trade supports more than 310,000 jobs in the state.

Job Creation

  • In Mississippi, 310,200 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 19.2% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 1,984 companies exported goods from Mississippi of which 76% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 46,700 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Mississippi exported $14.3 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2023. Mississippi’s largest markets were:5
    • Canada ($2.2 billion)
    • Mexico ($2.0 billion)
    • Panama ($1.6 billion)
    • Netherlands ($782 million)
    • China ($780 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Mississippi's' economy, totaling $2.7 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $388 million in exports from 19 companies in Mississippi.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $22 million in exports from Mississippi companies.9

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 2,960 international students were enrolled in Mississippi colleges and universities and contributed $73.5 million to the Mississippi economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 538 Peace Corps volunteers from Mississippi have served in dozens of countries overseas.11