Nicknamed the “Mountain State” and located in America’s south more specifically in the Appalachian region, West Virginia shipped US$5.65 billion worth of exported products around the globe in 2023.

That dollar amount results from a 23.8% upturn from $4.57 billion four years earlier in 2020.

Year over year, the overall value of goods exported from West Virginia dropped by -27.5% compared to $7.8 billion for 2022.

West Virginia ranks as America’s 40th most lucrative exporter by state well behind front-runners including Texas, California, Louisiana, New York state and Illinois.

The value of West Virginia’s exports equals 0.3% of United States’ overall exported products for 2023.

Based on research from Statista, West Virginia’s exported products represent 7.1% of the state’s total economic output or real Gross Domestic Product in 2023 ($80.14 billion). That percentage is much less than the 10.7% for the prior year.

Given West Virginia’s population of 1.77 million people, its total US$5.65 billion in 2023 exports translates to roughly $3,200 for every resident in the Mountain State. That dollar metric lags the average $4,300 per capita in 2022.

West Virginia’s unemployment rate was 4.3% at then end of March 2024, up from the 3.5% jobless rate one year earlier per YCharts.

West Virginia’s Top 10 Exports

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

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

1. Coal (non-agglomerated, bituminous): US$1.3 billion (23.1% of West Virginia’s exports)
2. Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines: $1.25 billion (22.1%)
3. Specific polyamides: $204.1 million (3.6%)
4. Civilian aircraft, parts including engines: $162.6 million (2.9%)
5. Miscellaneous polyethers: $139.1 million (2.5%)
6. Propylene copolymers in primary forms: $129.4 million (2.3%)
7. Polyacetals in primary form: $127.8 million (2.3%)
8. Supported catalysts with precious metal: $100.6 million (1.8%)
9. Aluminum alloy bars, rods, non-hollow profiles: $69.8 million (1.2%)
10. Aluminum alloy rectangle plates: $67.6 million (1.2%)

West Virginia’s top 10 exports generated over three-fifths (62.9%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Aluminum alloy bars, rods and non-hollow profiles represent the fastest grower among West Virginia’s top 10 export categories, up by 234.4% from 2022 to 2023.

In second place for improving export sales were spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines, gaining 120.1%. Other advances were made for exported propylene copolymers in primary forms (up 16.4%) then specific polyamides (up 4%).

The severest decline among West Virginia’s top 10 export products was the -65.2% year-over-year reduction for the number one export commodity, non-agglomerated bituminous coal.

More Key Facts about West Virginia’s International Trade

West Virginia earned an overall US$843 million trade surplus exporting and importing products during 2023. That dollar amount reflects a -77.2% reduction from $3.7 billion in black 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 West Virginia’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2023.

1. Turbo-jets (higher-thrust): US$545.7 million (11.3% of West Virginia’s imports)
2. Turbo-jet parts: $326.7 million (6.8%)
3. Electric motor or generator parts: $200.8 million (4.2%)
4. Terephthalic acid, salts: $153 million (3.2%)
5. Aluminum alloys (unwrought): $130.3 million (2.7%)
6. Motor vehicle gear boxes: $104.9 million (2.2%)
7. Non-alloy nickel (unwrought): $86.7 million (1.8%)
8. Miscellaneous fans: $84.5 million (1.8%)
9. Pipe taps, other parts: $83.4 million (1.7%)
10. Uncoated paper, paperboard: $77 million (1.6%)

West Virginia has highly positive net exports in the international trade of coal and large spark-ignition engines. In turn, these cashflows indicate West Virginia’s competitive advantages under those product categories.

West Virginia’s Major Trade Partners

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchased over four-fifths (81.2%) worth of the total value of products exported from West Virginia during 2023.

1. Canada: US$2.13 billion (37.6% of West Virginia’s exports)
2. mainland China: $539.5 billion (9.5%)
3. Japan: $376.8 million (6.7%)
4. Netherlands: $290.6 million (5.1%)
5. Belgium: $285.2 million (5%)
6. Mexico: $246.2 million (4.4%)
7. India: $229 million (4.1%)
8. Brazil: $198.7 million (3.5%)
9. Germany: $156.3 million (2.8%)
10. United Kingdom: $139.3 million (2.5%)

West Virginia’s top trade partners in Asia (mainland China, Japan and India) bought 20.3% of the state’s export sales in 2023.

In comparison, customers in North America (Canada and Mexico) imported 42% of West Virginian exports. Another 15.4% arrived in leading import countries in Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom).

West Virginian Export Companies

Not one West Virginia-based corporation ranks among Fortune 1000 Companies, a list that showcases America’s largest businesses.

According to Zippia, below are examples of larger companies based in West Virginia.

• Allegheny Wood Products (hardwood/lumber goods)
• Homer Laughlin China (dinnerware)
• Royal Vendors (vending machines)
• Superior Fibers, LLC (heating/air conditioning/filtration products)
• WesBanco (bank holding company)
• Woodcraft (woodworking tools, other supplies)

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

West Virginia’s capital is Charleston, a city nicknamed “Charlie West”.

See also Indiana’s Top 10 Exports, Nebraska’s Top 10 Exports, Wisconsin’s Top 10 Exports, Delaware’s Top 10 Exports and New Hampshire’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
FlagPictures.org, Flags of US States. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Forbes, 2020 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 17, 2024

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2020 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on May 17, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 17, 2024

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Statista, Real gross domestic product of West Virginia. Accessed on May 17, 2024

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: West Virginia. Accessed on May 17, 2024

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Wikipedia, Category:Companies based in West Virginia. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Wikipedia, West Virginia. Accessed on May 17, 2024

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on May 17, 2024

Zippia, These are the 100 largest companies in West Virginia. Accessed on May 17, 2024