Texas is an exporting powerhouse. Since 2002, the Lone Star State has led the country in exports as measured by dollars. So, for more than two decades now, data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has shown that Texas has been the export leader in the U.S.
The state exported $444.6 billion goods in 2023, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This represented more than 22% of the $2,019 billion worth of goods and services that the U.S. exported to the world, according to the Private Enterprise Research Center (PERC) of Texas A&M University. In comparison, the second-largest exporting state, which is California, only accounted for 8% of the country’s export for the same year.
Not only that but Texas exports have increased 195% in nominal terms from 2006 to 2023 while exports from the rest of the country during the same period rose by only 80%, according to the PERC. In dollar value, Texas exports in 2006 was $228 billion and grew to around $445 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, exports from all other states in 2006 amounted to $874 billion and rose to $1,574 billion in 2023.
Here’s the breakdown of Texas’ commercial main exports below.
Oil and Gas Exports
The no. 1 export from Texas is energy. This product category contributes around 10.6% to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Private Enterprise Research Center (PERC) of Texas A&M University. These products reach different countries throughout the globe and accounted for 68% of U.S. energy exports in 2023.
Oil and gas exports are the largest single source of Texas export value. The PERC pegs the total export value of oil and gas shipped out of the state at 31%. Along with Louisiana’s 18%, these two states alone account for 93% of all the oil and gas exports in the U.S.
Prior to 2016, oil and gas did not exceed $20 billion, but in 2023, oil and gas exports amounted to $139.90 billion. Thanks to the Obama Administration’s repeal of the export ban on crude oil exports in December 2015, the export value of oil and gas shot up by 908% between 2016 and 2023.
In comparison, the oil and gas exports from all other states, except for Louisiana, only increased by 60% during the same period. This increase was due to domestic shale crude oil producers (mainly from the Permian and Eagle Ford basins) now able to sell their excess light crude oil production to the world.
Manufacturing Exports
Manufacturing products follow energy products as the top exports of Texas. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has identified five industries that lead this category, namely, petroleum and coal products, chemicals, computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, and machinery (excluding electrical). In total, Texas exported $290.9 billion manufactured products in 2023.
- Petroleum and coal products
Among the manufactured products category, petroleum and coal products tops the list at $70 billion total goods exported in 2023. This represents 15% of the total exports by Texas and 59% of the total petroleum and coal products exported by the U.S.
The industry has seen a huge growth in terms of nominal export values from 2006 to 2023 at 445%.
- Chemicals
The value of chemicals, which includes resin, rubber, and fibers, exported by Texas in 2023 amounted to $58.3 billion. From 2006 to 2023, chemical exports from the state increased 103%.
- Computer and electronic products
In 2023, Texas exported $52.9 billion worth of computer and electronic products. From 2006 to 2023, the industry has grown by 50%.
One of the biggest contributors to this figure are semiconductors manufactured at the Samsung semiconductor plant in Austin. The South Korean company’s exports are expected to increase in the future following the completion of its semiconductor fabrication site in Taylor. Samsung broke ground in 2022 and aims to launch operations in 2026.
“Samsung’s new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor will bring countless opportunities for hardworking Central Texans and their families,” Governor Greg Abbott told the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TEDC), “and will play a major role in our state’s continued exceptionalism in the semiconductor industry.”
- Transportation equipment
Transportation equipment exports in Texas amounted to $27.48 billion in 2023. This represented an increase of 80% from its 2006 value and a growth of 4% from its 2022 value.
- Machinery (except electrical)
Machinery exports—without counting electrical machinery—accounted for $26.8 billion in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics.
Agricultural Exports
Texas ranks sixth among the states in terms of export value of total agricultural exports based on 2022 data from the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The state exported a total of $8,540 million agricultural products during the period.
Table 1. Top 6 states by export value of total agricultural exports in 2022
| State | Total Agricultural Exports |
| 1. California | $24,743 million |
| 2. Iowa | $16,515 million |
| 3. Illinois | $13,690 million |
| 4. Minnesota | $10,039 million |
| 5. Nebraska | $9,977 million |
| 6. Texas | $8,540 million |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service
Among the Lone Star State’s top agricultural exports are cotton, beef and veal, dairy products, broiler meat, and other plant products. Cotton exports amounted to $3,308 million, and beef and veal exports was at $1,572 million. Dairy products, broiler meat, and other plant product exports accounted for $704 million, $355 million, and $659 million, respectively.
Table 2. Top agricultural exports in Texas in 2022
| Commodity | Export Amount |
| Cotton | $3,308 million |
| Beef and veal | $1,572 million |
| Dairy products | $704 million |
| Other plant products | $659 million |
| Broiler meat | $355 million |
| Other livestock products | $307 million |
| Feeds and other feed grains | $296 million |
| Corn | $255 million |
| Wheat | $209 million |
| Other poultry products | $134 million |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service
Texas’ Export Destinations
The Lone Star State has major trading partners all over the world. Texas ships its products to every continent, except Antarctica. In particular, it conducts significant trade in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
Here’s the breakdown of Texas exports in 2023, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Table 3. Texas exports to major world areas in 2023
| World Area/Region | 2023 Export Value |
| APEC | $279.6 billion |
| Asia | $119.8 billion |
| European Union | $77.5 billion |
| South/Central America and Caribbean | $51.3 billion |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | $5.1 billion |
Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative
Mexico leads with a 29% share of Texas exports valued at $129.5 billion in 2023, according to data from the Private Enterprise Research Center (PERC) of Texas A&M University. It is followed by Canada, The Netherlands, China, and South Korea.
Table 4. Trading partners’ share and value of Texas exports in 2023
| Trading Partners | Share of Texas Exports | Value of Exports |
| Mexico | 29.13% | $129.5 billion |
| Canada | 8.07% | $35.9 billion |
| The Netherlands | 5.98% | $26.6 billion |
| China | 5.95% | $26.5 billion |
| South Korea | 4.74% | $21.1 billion |
Source: Texas A&M University, Private Enterprise Research Center (PERC)