Nicknamed the “Hawkeye State” located in America’s midwestern region, Iowa shipped US$17.1 billion worth of exported products around the world in 2024.

That dollar amount results from an 8.3% upturn from $15.75 billion four years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of Iowa’s exported goods fell by -7.2% compared to $18.4 billion for 2023.

Iowa ranks as America’s 30th most lucrative exporter by state well behind front-runners including Texas, California, New York state, Louisiana and Illinois.

The value of Iowa’s exports equaled 0.8% of the United States’ overall exported products for 2024, down from 0.9% in the prior year.

Iowa’s exported products represent 6.6% of the state’s total economic output or nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2024 ($257 billion).

Given Iowa’s population of 3.24 million people, its total $17.1 billion in 2024 exports translates to roughly $5,250 for every resident in the Hawkeye State. That dollar metric lags the average $5,700 per capita for 2023.

Iowa’s unemployment rate was 3.7% at the end of June 2025, up from 3% in June 2024 per YCharts.

Iowa’s Top 10 Exports

The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Iowa global shipments during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Iowa.

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

1. Corn: US$890.9 million (5.2% of Iowa’s total exports)
2. Large tractors: $826.4 million (4.8%)
3. Pork (frozen): $730.8 million (4.3%)
4. Solid residues including soya bean oil-cake: $449.1 million (2.6%)
5. Herbicides: $448.4 million (2.6%)
6. Liquor: $419.4 million (2.5%)
7. Pork (fresh or chilled): $407.7 million (2.4%)
8. Special purpose vehicles: $388.8 million (2.3%)
9. Roasted molybdenum ores, concentrates: $350.9 million (2.1%)
10. Soya beans: $327.2 million (1.9%)

Iowa’s top 10 exports accounted for almost a third (30.7%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Special purpose vehicles was the fastest grower among Iowa’s top 10 export categories, up by 31.2% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place for improving export sales were Iowan exports of frozen pork (up 30.1%) ahead of solid residues including soya bean oil-cake (up 5.8%).

The severest decliners among Iowa’s top 10 export products were large tractors (down -36.6% from 2023), soya beans (down -28.3%), herbicides (down -20.3%) then roasted molybdenum ores and concentrates (down -12.3%).

More Key Facts about Iowa’s International Trade

Iowa generated an overall US$4.6 billion surplus exporting and importing products during 2024. That dollar amount reflects a -10.1% retreat from $5.1 billion in black ink for 2023.

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 Iowa’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2024.

1. Semi-trailer road tractors: $631.6 million (5.1% of Iowa’s total imports)
2. Aluminum alloys (unwrought): $264 million (2.1%)
3. Piston engines: $245.2 million (2%)
4. Rapeseed or colza oil: $241.3 million (1.9%)
5. Self-propelled front-end shovel loaders: $232.7 million (1.9%)
6. Anhydrous ammonia: $232.3 million (1.9%)
7. Parts, accessories for cranes and derricks: $202.3 million (1.6%)
8. Potassium chloride: $196.9 million (1.6%)
9. Road tractor bodies: $179.7 million (1.4%)
10. Automobile parts, accessories: $130 million (1%)

Beyond the above list of imported goods, Iowa has positive net exports in the international trade of agricultural-related products led by large tractors, corn, pork, and soya beans. In turn, these cashflows indicate Iowa’s competitive advantages under those product categories.

Iowa’s Major Trade Partners

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchased about four-fifths (79.9%) worth of the total value of products exported from Iowa during 2024.

1. Canada: $5.3 billion (30.8% of Iowa’s total exports)
2. Mexico: $3.1 billion (18.3%)
3. mainland China: $927.4 million (5.4%)
4. Japan: $921.4 million (5.4%)
5. Brazil: $768 million (4.5%)
6. Germany: $661.2 million (3.9%)
7. Australia: $632.6 million (3.7%)
8. Netherlands: $499.5 million (2.9%)
9. South Korea: $436 million (2.6%)
10. United Kingdom: $392.5 million (2.3%)

Iowa’s top trade partners in North America (Canada and Mexico) bought nearly half (49.1%) of the overall value of exported goods from the Hawkeye State.

In contrast, 13.4% of Iowa’s exported goods was bought by top importers in Asia (mainland China, Japan and South Korea).

Another 9.1% was sent to leading importers based in Europe (Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom).

Iowan Export Companies

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

• Casey’s General Stores (convenience stores, fuel)
• HNI Corp (office furniture, fireplaces)
• Principal Financial Group (investment management, insurance)
• Rockwell Collins (avionics/technology systems, services)

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

Iowa’s capital is Des Moines, a city originally named Fort Des Moines.

See also Nevada’s Top 10 Exports, Idaho’s Top 10 Exports, Kentucky’s Top 10 Exports, Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Exports and Mississippi’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
FlagPictures.org, Flags of US States. Accessed on August 6, 2025

Forbes, 2020 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on August 6, 2025

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2020 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on August 6, 2025

IBIS World, Iowa Economic Profile (gross domestic product, population). Accessed on August 6, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 6, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 6, 2025

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on August 6, 2025

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Iowa. Accessed on August 6, 2025

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on August 6, 2025

Wikipedia, Category:Companies based in Iowa. Accessed on August 6, 2025

Wikipedia, Iowa. Accessed on August 6, 2025

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on August 6, 2025

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on August 6, 2025