2021 Kansas Export Statistics Executive Summary

Kansas exports reached an all-time high of $12.6 billion in 2021. Compared with last year’s data, exports surged by $2.2 billion, representing a 20.9 percent growth. The previous high for state exports occurred in 2008, and topped out at $12.5 billion.  This most recent increase was, at least in part, most likely the result of pent-up demand due to the trade distortions brought on by the pandemic.  Higher product prices and the monetary actions and fiscal policiies of some of our trading partners also played a role.

The combined value of the top ten exported commodities was $9.7 billion, which increased by 25.1 percent since 2020. The most significant gains were seen in the cereals category, meat category, aircraft and parts category, industrial machinery category, beverages category (ethyl alcohol – ingredient for hand sanitizer and other cleaning products), which increased by $531 million, $460 million, $393 million, 213 million, and 182 million respectively. By contrast, the vehicles and parts category decreased by $86 million, and the special classification provisions category shrunk by $89 million. This latter category includes repaired goods and charitable donations.  

In the five-state region, including Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, the average export value was $10.3 billion, and $2.3 billion less than the Sunflower State. Furthermore, Kansas reached the 2^nd-highest export growth rate in the region for 2021, behind only first place (Missouri) by 0.38% and leading third place (Oklahoma) by 5.7%.

Below are some highlights regarding key international markets and commodities:

• The top ten exported commodities accounted for 77.3 percent of total exports which is in line with last year’s data (77 percent);

• Other than the cereals, meat, and aircraft and parts categories, significant growth was seen in the electric machinery, food industry residues, and rawhides categories, which increased by $170 million, $104 million, and $65 million respectively;

• Mexico, Canada, and China took the title of Kansas’ Top-Three Export Destinations, totaling $5.9 billion. Furthermore, exports to these three countries increased by nearly $1.5 billion;

• For Mexico, the surge came from the agricultural commodities and aircraft/parts categories. For Canada, industrial and electric machinery, beverages (ethyl alcohol), and aircraft/parts contributed to the significant growth. For China, the most noticeable increase can be observed in the agricultural commodities and meat products categories;

• Compared with the previous year, the only trade partner to drop off the Top-Ten destination list was Brazil. It became Kansas’ 11^th largest export destination in 2021. A reduction in veterinary medicine exports was the main reason for this slight change;

• In rank order, the top five export markets for Kansas are Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.  When combined together, this group accounted for a full 60 percent of total exports while the top ten markets accounted for 75 percent of total exports.