Countries to which Kentucky exports the most goods

Written by:
September 23, 2025
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Countries to which Kentucky exports the most goods

Although imports are undoubtedly a major part of the United States economy, the reverse is also true. In fact, according to the United States Trade Office, the U.S. is the second-largest exporter of goods in the world, second to China. The country's trade relationships with the rest of the world are widespread, reaching over 200 countries and territories.

Service exports, such as tourism and software development, are particularly important for the United States' export output. In 2022, for instance, the U.S. exported $926 billion in service exports, a 16.4% increase from 2021. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, other major U.S. exports include aircraft parts and petroleum gas.

Certain states' export rates vary significantly from others, depending on the predominant industries in each area. For example, in July 2025, Texas exported the most goods ($37.5 billion), followed by California ($15.9 billion) and New York ($7.6 billion).

Nationwide economic decisions can also substantially affect overall exports. If a country imposes tariffs—taxes on goods imported from a specific country—impacted countries might introduce retaliatory tariffs as a result.

When tracking U.S. economic activity, you might find yourself wondering: Which countries does my state export the most goods to? And what industries influence what gets exported?

To help answer that question, Stacker compiled a list of countries that Kentucky exports the most goods to using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by the total value of exports in 2024 with Kentucky.

Keep reading to find out which countries your state's exports are most likely headed to in the near future.

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#30. Poland

- Exports: $82.6 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($14.8 million)
--- Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, paper or paperboard ($14.6 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($13.9 million)
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#29. South Africa

- Exports: $93.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($19.2 million)
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($18.3 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($16.0 million)
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#28. Ethiopia

- Exports: $102.0 million
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($93.6 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($4.1 million)
--- Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials ($1.2 million)
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#27. Thailand

- Exports: $115.9 million
- Largest exports:
--- Aluminum and articles thereof ($16.5 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($13.0 million)
--- Rubber and articles thereof ($9.0 million)
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#26. Sweden

- Exports: $123.0 million
- Largest exports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($47.3 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($39.5 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($10.5 million)
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#25. Panama

- Exports: $130.2 million
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($93.3 million)
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($9.2 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($6.1 million)
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#24. Israel

- Exports: $154.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($44.0 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($38.7 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($33.1 million)
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#23. Colombia

- Exports: $159.2 million
- Largest exports:
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($76.7 million)
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($17.5 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($16.2 million)
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#22. Italy

- Exports: $232.4 million
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($53.5 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($46.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($42.1 million)
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#21. Spain

- Exports: $249.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($88.5 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($44.7 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($18.7 million)
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#20. Saudi Arabia

- Exports: $263.4 million
- Largest exports:
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($89.6 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($82.9 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($27.2 million)
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#19. Malaysia

- Exports: $308.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($194.1 million)
--- Aluminum and articles thereof ($18.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($16.4 million)
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#18. Taiwan

- Exports: $327.9 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($210.8 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($20.5 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($19.5 million)
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#17. Ireland

- Exports: $417.2 million
- Largest exports:
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($160.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($83.2 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($52.8 million)
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#16. India

- Exports: $496.1 million
- Largest exports:
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($266.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($43.6 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($28.1 million)
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#15. Australia

- Exports: $592.5 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($205.4 million)
--- Beverages, spirits and vinegar ($83.9 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($83.1 million)
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#14. Belgium

- Exports: $596.4 million
- Largest exports:
--- Pharmaceutical products ($213.6 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($131.4 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($43.6 million)
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#13. Hong Kong

- Exports: $645.4 million
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($502.9 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($74.2 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($26.1 million)
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#12. South Korea

- Exports: $812.7 million
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($227.6 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($203.2 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($90.4 million)
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#11. United Arab Emirates

- Exports: $864.6 million
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($564.0 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($91.8 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($80.7 million)
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#10. Brazil

- Exports: $996.7 million
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($515.5 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($65.9 million)
--- Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes ($63.7 million)
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#9. France

- Exports: $1.0 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($544.7 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($73.1 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($65.7 million)
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#8. Japan

- Exports: $1.1 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($299.5 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($185.6 million)
--- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories ($92.6 million)
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#7. United Kingdom

- Exports: $1.3 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Pharmaceutical products ($414.9 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($326.0 million)
--- Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal ($140.1 million)
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#6. Singapore

- Exports: $1.4 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($997.8 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($195.8 million)
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($44.1 million)
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#5. Germany

- Exports: $1.5 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($777.0 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($214.5 million)
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($101.1 million)
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#4. China

- Exports: $1.7 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($534.5 million)
--- Miscellaneous chemical products ($169.6 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($167.0 million)
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#3. Netherlands

- Exports: $1.7 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof ($396.9 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($346.6 million)
--- Pharmaceutical products ($192.1 million)
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#2. Mexico

- Exports: $2.9 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts ($533.4 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($477.0 million)
--- Aluminum and articles thereof ($322.5 million)
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#1. Canada

- Exports: $4.0 billion
- Largest exports:
--- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories ($575.5 million)
--- Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof ($537.1 million)
--- Plastics and articles thereof ($462.1 million)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Abby Monteil, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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