Nicknamed the “Mountain State” and located in America’s south more specifically in the Appalachian region, West Virginia shipped US$4.87 billion worth of exported products around the globe in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a -23.2% downturn from $6.34 billion four years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of goods exported from West Virginia dropped by -14% compared to $5.67 billion for 2023.

West Virginia ranks as America’s 42nd most lucrative exporter by state well behind front-runners including Texas, California, New York state, Louisiana and Illinois.

The value of West Virginia’s exports equals 0.2% of United States’ overall exported products for 2024, down from 0.3% for 2023.

West Virginia’s exported products represent 4.5% of the state’s total economic output or nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2024 ($107.7 billion).

Given West Virginia’s population of 1.77 million people, its total US$4.87 billion in 2024 exports translates to roughly $2,750 for every resident in the Mountain State. That dollar metric lags the average $3,200 per capita in 2023.

West Virginia’s unemployment rate was 4% at then end of September 2025, down from the 4.1% 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 2024. 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. Spark-ignition reciprocating piston engines: US$1.2 billion (24% of total West Virginian exports)
2. Coal (non-agglomerated, bituminous): $371.5 million (7.6%)
3. Civilian aircraft, full or aircraft parts including engines: $297.2 million (6.1%)
4. Specific polyamides: $200.1 million (4.1%)
5. Miscellaneous polyesters: $181.1 million (3.7%)
6. Polyacetals in primary form: $150.8 million (3.1%)
7. Propylene copolymers in primary forms: $112.7 million (2.3%)
8. Aluminum alloy rectangle plates: $94.6 million (1.9%)
9. Supported catalysts with precious metal: $71.9 million (1.5%)
10. Miscellaneous polyesters: $70.4 million (1.4%)

West Virginia’s top 10 exports generated over half (55.8%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Civilian aircraft, including fully assembled or aircraft parts including engines, represent the fastest grower among West Virginia’s top 10 export categories, up by 81.1% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place for improving export sales were aluminum alloy rectangle plates, gaining 39% ahead of miscellaneous polyesters (up 32.5%).

The severest decline among West Virginia’s top 10 export products was the -71.1% year-over-year reduction for the number two export commodity, non-agglomerated bituminous coal.

More Key Facts about West Virginia’s International Trade

West Virginia earned an overall US$34 million trade surplus exporting and importing products during 2024. That dollar amount reflects a -96.1% reduction from $875.3 million 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 West Virginia’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2024.

1. Turbo-jets (high-thrust): US$442.7 million (9.1% of total West Virginian imports)
2. Turbo-jet or turbo-propeller parts: $441.6 million (9.1%)
3. Electric motors or generators: $227.2 million (4.7%)
4. Aluminum alloys (unwrought): $168.1 million (3.5%)
5. Terephthalic acid, salts: $102.7 million (2.1%)
6. Electric motor or generator parts: $99.6 million (2.1%)
7. Uncoated paper, paperboard: $87.5 million (1.8%)
8. Parts for metal rolling mills: $85.4 million (1.8%)
9. Motor vehicle gear boxes: $82 million (1.7%)
10. Internal combustion engine spark plugs: $77.9 million (1.6%)

West Virginia has highly positive net exports in the international trade of coal and 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 just over four-fifths (80.6%) worth of the total value of products exported from West Virginia during 2024.

1. Canada: US$2 billion (40.9% of total West Virginian exports)
2. mainland China: $442.9 million (9.1%)
3. Belgium: $260.7 million (5.4%)
4. Mexico: $253.2 million (5.2%)
5. Netherlands: $187.0 million (3.8%)
6. Germany: $183.9 million (3.8%)
7. Japan: $169.9 million (3.5%)
8. India: $166.3 million (3.4%)
9. Brazil: $141.6 million (2.9%)
10. South Korea: $129.5 million (2.7%)

West Virginia’s top trade partners in Asia (mainland China, Japan and India) bought 18.6% of the state’s export sales in 2024.

In comparison, customers in North America (Canada and Mexico) imported 46.1% of West Virginian exports. Another 13% arrived in leading import countries in Europe (Belgium, Netherlands and Germany).

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 January 20, 2026

Forbes, 2021 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on January 20, 2026

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2021 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on January 20, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on January 20, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on January 20, 2026

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on January 20, 2026

Statista, Real gross domestic product of West Virginia. Accessed on January 20, 2026

United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts: West Virginia. Accessed on January 20, 2026

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on January 20, 2026

Wikipedia, Category:Companies based in West Virginia. Accessed on January 20, 2026

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on January 20, 2026

Wikipedia, West Virginia. Accessed on January 20, 2026

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on January 20, 2026

Zippia, These are the 100 largest companies in West Virginia. Accessed on January 20, 2026