Arkansas plays an active role in international trade, with exports totaling several billion dollars annually and supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the state. In 2024, the state’s leading export industries included transportation equipment, food and agricultural products, chemicals, machinery, and paper products.

Arkansas companies ship goods primarily to North American partners, with Mexico and Canada serving as the largest export markets, followed by countries such as France, China, and Brazil. At the same time, the state imports a wide range of manufactured goods—especially transportation equipment, machinery, and electrical components—from major partners including Canada, France, China, Mexico, and Germany.

Small and medium-sized businesses drive much of this activity, accounting for nearly four out of five exporting companies. Export activity is concentrated in several metropolitan areas, particularly the Memphis region and the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway and Northwest Arkansas areas, highlighting the importance of manufacturing, logistics, and global market connections to Arkansas’s economy. See the charts below for more detailed information.