Nicknamed the “Sooner State”–a historical reference to non-Native settlers who staked land claims before the official opening or appropriation dates–Oklahoma shipped US$6.5 billion worth of exported products around the globe in 2023.

That dollar amount results from a 20.6% increase from $5.4 billion four years earlier in 2020.

Year over year, the overall value of Oklahoman exports shrank by -4.6% compared to $6.8 billion during 2022.

Located in America’s South Central region, Oklahoma ranks 38th among America’s most lucrative exporters by state well behind front-runners including Texas, California, Louisiana, New York state and Illinois.

The value of Oklahoma’s exports equals 0.3% of the United States’ overall exported product sales for 2023, same as for 2022.

Based on research from IBIS World, Oklahoma’s exported products represent 3.3% of the state’s total economic output or Gross Domestic Product in 2023 ($195.2 billion).

Given Oklahoma’s population of 4.06 million people, its total $6.5 billion in 2023 exports translates to roughly $1,600 for every resident in the Sooner State. That dollar metric lags the average $1,700 per capita one year earlier in 2022.

Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was 3.5% at the end of March 2024, up from 3% one year earlier per YCharts.

Oklahoma’s Top 10 Exports

The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Oklahoma global shipments during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Oklahoma.

Figures are shown at the more granular six-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, for more precise product identification.

1. Civilian aircraft including engines, parts: US$783.4 million (12% of Oklahoma’s total exports)
2. Parts for turbo-jets and turbo-propellers: $395.3 million (6.1%)
3. Organic precious metal compounds, amalgams: $134.6 million (2.1%)
4. Cotton (uncarded, uncombed): $132.2 million (2%)
5. Solid-state semi-conductor storage devices: $111.9 million (1.7%)
6. Pipe taps, similar parts: $101.6 million (1.7%)
7. Air conditioning machines: $102.1 million (1.6%)
8. Ovens, stoves, cooking plates, roasters: $100.1 million (1.5%)
9. Natural polymers: $90.2 million (1.4%)
10. Voice, image or data machinery: $83.8 million (1.3%)

Oklahoma’s top 10 exports approached one-third (31.4%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Parts for turbo-jets and turbo-propellers represent the fastest grower among Oklahoma’s top 10 export categories, up by 87.6% from 2022 to 2023.

In second place for Oklahoma’s improving export sales was civilian aircraft including engines or other aircraft parts via a 47.7% annual gain.

Ovens, stoves, cooking plates, roasters rose 25.2% from 2022 ahead of Oklahoma’s exports of solid-state semi-conductor storage devices thanks to a 23.2% advance.

There were 3 decliners: organic precious metal compounds and amalgams (down -61.5% from 2022), uncarded and uncombed cotton (down -51.9%), then Oklahoman exports of air conditioning machines (down -34.5%).

More Key Facts about Oklahoma’s International Trade

Oklahoma incurred an overall -US$11.3 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2023. That dollar amount reflects a -6.2% year-over-year decline from -$12 billion in red ink for 2022.

Another way of saying surplus or deficit is positive or negative net exports. In a nutshell, the term “net exports” quantifies the amount by which foreign spending on a state’s goods or services exceeds or lags that same state’s spending on foreign goods or services.

Below are Oklahoma’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2023.

1. Crude petroleum oils: US$7.1 billion (40.2% of Oklahoma’s total imports)
2. Turbo-jets: $421 million (2.4%)
3. Liquid pump parts: $369.8 million (2.1%)
4. Decorative items for Christmas festivities: $270.3 million (1.5%)
5. Centrifugal pumps: $160 million (0.9%)
6. Solid-state semiconductor storage devices: $153.8 million (0.9%)
7. Coins: $152.6 million (0.9%)
8. Small portable digital computers: $144.4 million (0.8%)
9. Parts of planes or helicopters: $139.1 million (0.8%)
10. Miscellaneous precious metal items: $127.1 million (0.7%)

The State of Oklahoma incurs the largest negative net exports in the international trade of crude petroleum oils. In turn, these cashflows indicate Oklahoma’s competitive disadvantage–and dependency–under that product category.

Oklahoma’s Major Trading Partners

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchased nearly three-quarters (72.4%) worth of the total value of products exported from Oklahoma during 2023.

1. Canada: US$1.9 billion (28.6% of Oklahoma’s total exports)
2. Mexico: $629.8 million (9.7%)
3. Germany: $595.2 million (9.1%)
4. Netherlands: $321.4 million (4.9%)
5. Japan: $262.3 million (4%)
6. Australia: $238.3 million (3.7%)
7. mainland China: $224.5 million (3.4%)
8. United Kingdom: $210.2 million (3.2%)
9. Singapore: $207.2 million (3.2%)
10. Norway: $167.8 million (2.6%)

Oklahoma’s top trade partners in North America (Canada and Mexico) bought 38.2% of the overall value of goods exported from the Sooner State.

In comparison, 10.7% was sold to those export customers among Oklahoma’s top 10 located in Asia (Japan, mainland China and Singapore).

Another 19.9% went to leading importers in Europe (Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Norway).

Oklahoman Export Companies

Twelve of Oklahoma-based corporations rank among Fortune 1000 Companies, a list that showcases America’s largest businesses. Selected examples are listed below.

• Chesapeake Energy Corp (petroleum, natural gas)
• Continental Resources, Inc. (petroleum, natural gas)
• Devon Energy Corp (petroleum, natural gas)
• Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (oil field products, services)
• NGL Energy Partners LP (crude oil logistics, water solutions, propane)
• ONEOK, Inc. (natural gas)
• Williams Companies, Inc. (petroleum, natural gas)
• WPX Energy (petroleum, natural gas)

Shown within brackets for each company is a summary of the international trade-related products or services which each business sells.
 

Oklahoma’s capital is Oklahoma City, nicknamed “OKC”, “The Big Friendly” and “The 405”.

See also Top 10 Exports from Arkansas, Alaska’s Top 10 Exports, Oregon’s Top 10 Exports, Louisiana’s Top 10 Exports and Washington State’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
FlagPictures.org, Flags of US States. Accessed on May 4, 2024

Forbes, Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 4, 2024

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2020 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on May 4, 2024

IBIS World, New Jersey GDP (dollars shown in real terms). Accessed on May 4, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 4, 2024

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 4, 2024

Statista, Real gross domestic product of Oklahoma. Accessed on May 4, 2024

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on May 4, 2024

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Oklahoma. Accessed on May 4, 2024

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on May 4, 2024

Wikipedia, Category:Companies based in Oklahoma. Accessed on May 4, 2024

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on May 4, 2024

Wikipedia, Oklahoma. Accessed on May 4, 2024

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on May 4, 2024