Nicknamed the “Sooner State”–a historical reference to non-Native settlers who staked land claims before the official opening or appropriation dates–Oklahoma shipped US$7.8 billion worth of exported products around the world in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a 24.9% increase from $6.24 billion four years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of Oklahoman exports accelerated by 24.9% compared to $6.5 billion during 2023.

Located in America’s South Central region, Oklahoma ranks 37th among America’s most lucrative exporters by state well behind front-runners including Texas, California, New York state, Louisiana and Illinois.

The value of Oklahoma’s exports equals 0.4% of the United States’ overall exported product sales for 2024, up from 0.3% for 2023.

Oklahoma’s exported products represent 2.9% of the state’s total economic output or nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2024 ($265.8 billion).

Given Oklahoma’s population of 4.1 million people, its total $7.8 billion in 2024 exports translates to roughly $1,900 for every resident in the Sooner State. That dollar metric surpasses the average $1,600 per capita one year earlier in 2023.

Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was 3.1% at the end of July 2025, down from 3.3% one year earlier per YCharts.

Oklahoma’s Top 10 Exports

The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Oklahoma global shipments during 2024. 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, engines, other aircraft parts: US$1.3 billion (16.8% of total Oklahoman exports)
2. Turbojet and turbopropeller parts: $669.7 million (8.6%)
3. Parts for boring or sinking machinery: $162.9 million (2.1%)
4. Organic precious metal compounds, amalgams: $138.4 million (1.8%)
5. Pipe taps, similar parts: $134.9 million (1.7%)
6. Solid-state semiconductor storage devices: $116.5 million (1.5%)
7. Industrial heat exchange units: $112.4 million (1.4%)
8. Buses, other public transport vehicles (diesel): $109.9 million (1.4%)
9. Miscellaneous medications for retail: $106.8 million (1.4%)
10. Air conditioning machines: $96.2 million (1.2%)

Oklahoma’s top 10 exports approached two-fifths (38%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Parts for boring or sinking machinery represent the fastest grower among Oklahoma’s top 10 export categories, up by 265.4% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place for Oklahoma’s improving export sales were miscellaneous medications packaged for retail sale via a 129.7% annual gain.

Buses and other public transport vehicles powered by diesel or semi-diesel engines rose 69% from 2023, ahead of Oklahoma’s exports of civilian aircraft, engines and other aircraft parts thanks to that category’s 67.8% advance.

The lone decliner was for Oklahoman exports of air conditioning machines (down -5.9% from 2023).

More Key Facts about Oklahoma’s International Trade

Oklahoma incurred an overall -US$10.1 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2024. That dollar amount reflects a -10.1% year-over-year slimming from -$11.2 billion in red 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 Oklahoma’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2024.

1. Crude petroleum oils: US$7.1 billion (39.4% of total Oklahoman imports)
2. Turbo-jets: $456.1 million (2.5%)
3. Liquid pump parts: $310.5 million (1.7%)
4. Decorative items for Christmas festivities: $282.4 million (1.6%)
5. Solid-state semiconductor storage devices: $179.3 million (1%)
6. Centrifugal pumps: $165.3 million (0.9%)
7. Small portable digital computers: $162.4 million (0.9%)
8. Parts of planes or helicopters: $156.4 million (0.9%)
9. Iron or steel granulated slag: $133.2 million (0.7%)
10. Wheeled toys including tricycles: $123.1 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 over two-thirds (68.2%) worth of the total value of products exported from Oklahoma during 2024.

1. Canada: US$1.9 billion (24.5% of total Oklahoman exports)
2. Germany: $721.2 million (9.2%)
3. Mexico: $606.5 million (7.8%)
4. Brazil: $387.9 million (5%)
5. Japan: $356 million (4.6%)
6. Australia: $310 million (4%)
7. Singapore: $305.2 million (3.9%)
8. United Kingdom: $246.6 million (3.2%)
9. Saudi Arabia: $245.2 million (3.1%)
10. Norway: $227.4 million (2.9%)

Oklahoma’s top trade partners in North America (Canada and Mexico) bought 32.3% of the overall value of goods exported from the Sooner State.

In comparison, 8.5% was sold to those export customers among Oklahoma’s top 10 located in Asia (Japan and Singapore).

Another 15.3% went to leading importers in Europe (Germany, 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 September 12, 2025

Forbes, Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on September 12, 2025

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2021 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on September 12, 2025

IBIS World, New Jersey GDP (dollars shown in real terms). Accessed on September 12, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 12, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 12, 2025

Statista, Real gross domestic product of Oklahoma. Accessed on September 12, 2025

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on September 12, 2025

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Oklahoma. Accessed on September 12, 2025

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on September 12, 2025

Wikipedia, Category:Companies based in Oklahoma. Accessed on September 12, 2025

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on September 12, 2025

Wikipedia, Oklahoma. Accessed on September 12, 2025

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on September 12, 2025