Governor Andy Beshear said Thursday that Kentucky’s $47.7 billion in exports in 2024 set a new record for the amount of goods sent worldwide. The Commonwealth’s 18.7% rise over the previous year broke the 2023 record.
There has never been a greater demand for Kentucky-made goods produced by dedicated Kentuckians throughout the Commonwealth, according to Governor Beshear. Without great businesses depending on Kentucky’s skilled and industrious workforce, we would not have been able to achieve a new state record for exports for the second year in a row. Our long-term economic growth depends on the Commonwealth’s dedication to forming alliances around the world. The rest of the world is now more aware than ever that a product created in Kentucky is just unbeatable.
Canada was once again Kentucky’s biggest export destination, with over $9.3 billion in products, according to data just released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, and WISERTrade. The top five markets for Kentucky-made goods continue to be the United Kingdom (more than $4.9 billion), France (more than $4.7 billion), China (more than $4.3 billion), and Mexico (more than $4.1 billion). Brazil, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Germany, and Singapore were among the other leading trading partners.
In 2024, Kentucky’s primary export continued to be aerospace products and parts. Over $18.9 billion worth of goods were transported by the industry from the US, a nearly 41.8% rise from the year before.
Among Kentucky’s top exports are still automobiles and pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical shipments totaled $3.7 billion worldwide, while motor vehicle distributions totaled $4.4 billion, an 18% rise from the previous year. Engines, turbines, and power transmission equipment (almost $1.7 billion) and motor vehicle parts (nearly $2 billion) complete the top five product categories shipped from the Commonwealth.
Visit kyexports.com to learn more about exports from Kentucky.
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