Nicknamed “The Land of Lincoln” and “Prairie State” located in America’s Midwestern region, Illinois shipped US$81.8 billion worth of export products around the globe in 2024.

That dollar amount represents a 23.7% increase from $66.1 billion four years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of goods exported from Illinois grew 3.9% compared to $78.8 billion during 2023.

Illinois ranks among America’s top 5 biggest exporters by state logging only front-runners California and Texas.

The value of Illinois’ exports equals 4% of the United States’ overall exported products sold in 2024, up from 3.9% one year earlier.

Illinois’ exported products represent 7.2% of the state’s total economic output or nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2024 ($1.137 trillion).

Given Illinois’ population of 12.7 million people, its total $81.8 billion in 2024 exports translates to roughly $6,450 for every resident in the Land of Lincoln state. That dollar metric exceeds the average $6,300 per capita in 2023.

Illinois’ unemployment rate was 4.4% in August 2025, down from 5% one year earlier per YCharts.

Illinois’ Top 10 Exports

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

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

Illinois’ most valuable export in 2024 are showcased below.

1. US$3.3 billion (4% of total Illinoisian exports)
2. Soya beans: $3 billion (3.7%)
3. Modems, similar reception/transmission devices: $2.95 billion (3.6%)
4. Miscellaneous medications packaged for retail: $2.4 billion (2.9%)
5. Dumpers for off-highway use: $2.2 billion (2.7%)
6. Antisera, other blood fractions: $1.8 billion (2.3%)
7. Light petroleum oils: $1.6 billion (1.9%)
8. Corn: $1.33 billion (1.6%)
9. Civilian aircraft, aircraft engines or other parts: $1.29 billion (1.6%)
10. Immunological products (measured doses) for retail: $1.26 billion (1.5%)

Illinois’ top 10 exports represent just over one-quarter (25.8%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

The fastest-growing export category from Illinois from 2023 to 2024 was civilian aircraft and related products, propelled by a 183.6% advance.

Double-digit year-over-year improvements were for Illinoisian exports of blood fractions such as antisera (up 88.7%), automotive parts or accessories (up 78.4%), corn (up 26.9%) then miscellaneous medications packaged for retail sale (up 23.5%).

There was a pair of year-over-year decliners among Illinois’ top 10 export products. These were light petroleum oils (down -21.1% from 2023) and modems or similar reception or transmission devices (down -18.5%).

More Key Facts about Illinois’ International Trade

Illinois incurred a total -US$136.4 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2024. That dollar amount reflects a -6.6% retreat from -$145.9 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 Illinois’ top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2024.

1. Crude petroleum oils: US$46.2 billion (21.2% of total Illinoisian imports)
2. Smartphones: $17.5 billion (8%)
3. Small portable computers: $12.2 billion (5.6%)
4. Miscellaneous medications packaged for retail: $11.4 billion (5.2%)
5. Modems, similar reception/transmission devices: $7.5 billion (3.4%)
6. Malt beer: $5.8 billion (2.7%)
7. Miscellaneous items made with precious metals: $3 billion (1.4%)
8. Unwrought gold: $2.6 billion (1.2%)
9. Immunological products (measured doses) for retail: $2 billion (0.9%)
10. Miscellaneous computer storage units: $1.5 billion (0.7%)

Illinois has highly negative net exports in the international trade of crude petroleum oils and smartphones. In turn, these cashflows indicate Illinois’ competitive disadvantages under these product categories.

Major Illinoisian Trade Partners

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchased roughly three-quarters (74.5%) worth of the total value of products exported from Illinois during 2024.

1. Canada: US$20.9 billion (25.6% of total Illinoisian exports)
2. Mexico: $13 billion (15.9%)
3. Australia: $4.72 billion (5.8%)
4. mainland China: $4.71 billion (5.8%)
5. Germany: $4.4 billion (5.4%)
6. Netherlands: $3.5 billion (4.2%)
7. Brazil: $2.72 billion (3.3%)
8. United Kingdom: $2.67 billion (3.3%)
9. Japan: $2.57 billion (3.1%)
10. Singapore: $1.7 billion (2.1%)

Illinois’ top trade partners in North America (Canada and Mexico) bought 41.5% of the overall value of exported goods from Illinois.

In comparison, top importers of Illinoisian exports in Europe (Germany, Netherlands and the UK) accounted for 12.3% of the total.

Another 11% was bought by leading importers in Asia (mainland China, Japan and Singapore).

Illinoisian Export Companies

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

• Abbott Laboratories (generic drugs, medical devices, nutritional products)
• AbbVie (biopharmaceuticals, small molecule drugs)
• Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (processed food, feeds, beverages)
• Caterpillar Inc. (heavy machinery, engines)
• Deere & Company (heavy machinery, engines, vehicles)
• Illinois Tool Works (fasteners, specialty products)
• Mondelez International (confectionery, food, beverages)
• Navistar International Corp (trucks, buses, engines, parts)
• The Boeing Company (aircraft, rockets, satellites)
• US Foods (packaged foods, frozen foods, fresh produce)

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

The capital of Illinois is Springfield, a city nicknamed “Flower City”.

See also Alabama’s Top 10 Exports, Florida’s Top 10 Exports, California’s Top 10 Exports and Louisiana’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Department of Numbers, Illinois GDP (dollars shown in real terms). Accessed on September 29, 2025

FlagPictures.org, Flags of US States. Accessed on September 29, 2025

Forbes, Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on September 29, 2025

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2019 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on September 29, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 29, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 29, 2025

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on September 29, 2025

Statista, Real gross domestic product of Illinois. Accessed on September 29, 2025

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Illinois. Accessed on September 29, 2025

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on September 29, 2025

Wikipedia, Illinois. Accessed on September 29, 2025

Wikipedia, List of Illinois Companies. Accessed on September 29, 2025

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on September 29, 2025