Promote:
Export from Connecticut
A short guide for companies selling from Connecticut: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Connecticut sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$17.7 billion
Merchandise exports were US$17,742.8 million in 2025, as first published, including re-exports.
Source: Census Bureau, Exhibit 2 state export origin, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Manufactured goods exports
US$14.1 billion
Manufactured goods exports were US$14,061.2 million in 2025, 79.3 percent of the state's total, computed from Census Exhibit 2.
Source: Census Bureau, Exhibit 2 state export origin, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Top goods exports
2025
- 1. Civilian aircraft, engines and partsUS$5 billion
- 2. Semiconductor manufacturing machines (HS 8486)US$1.11 billion
- 3. Gas turbines and jet engine parts (HS 8411)US$560.1 million
- 4. Air compressors, pumps and fans (HS 8414)US$462.8 million
- 5. Valves and taps (HS 8481)US$401.8 million
- 6. Aircraft parts (HS 8807)US$393.7 million
- 7. Measuring and inspection instruments (HS 9031)US$291.9 million
- 8. Electricity (HS 2716)US$285.4 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Insulated wire and cable (HS 8544)US$274.5 million
- 10. Centrifuges and filtering equipment (HS 8421)US$218.9 million
- 11. Electrical control boards and panels (HS 8537)US$216 million
- 12. Electrical switches and connectors (HS 8536)US$211.5 million
- 13. Medical and dental instruments (HS 9018)US$192.4 million
- 14. Gears and transmission parts (HS 8483)US$186.5 million
- 15. Engines and motors, other (HS 8412)US$159.4 million
- 16. Industrial heating and cooling equipment (HS 8419)US$149.8 million
- 17. Electric motors and generators (HS 8501)US$143.3 million
- 18. Industrial machinery, other (HS 8479)US$135.4 million
- 19. Carbonates (HS 2836)US$131.5 million
- 20. Lab and analytical instruments (HS 9027)US$130.9 million
- Origin of movement is where goods began their trip to the port, not always where made. Farm and mining goods generally show the state of the port of export, and foreign-trade zone shipments are spread among states. Source (opens in a new tab)
- The ranking's shares are of US$17,802.5 million, the Census Bureau's current 2025 total in its state export data. The exports total shown, US$17,742.8 million, is Exhibit 2's figure as first published, so the two differ slightly. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Where the goods go
2025, share of goods exports
- Canada12.4%
- Germany11%
- France8.2%
- Netherlands8%
- Mexico6.8%
- United Kingdom6.3%
- China5.2%
- Singapore3.8%
Show 2 more destinations
- Brazil3.2%
- Japan2.9%
Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
2. What to look into next
Our reading
The research marks air compressors, pumps and fans, valves and taps and aircraft parts as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Connecticut’s top destinations overall.
Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Based on: Top goods exports
Air compressors, pumps and fans grew 30% from 2024 to 2025; industrial machinery, other grew 19% from 2024 to 2025. A growing line can mean buyers are looking for more; confirm it with that line’s buyers before you plan around it.
Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Based on: Top goods exports, against the year before
Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.
3. Trade agreements
For Connecticut: the United States’ agreements apply
4. What Connecticut runs for exporters
Only what Connecticut itself runs or asks of exporters, each with its source.
DECD runs Connecticut's State Trade Expansion Program grant, and its Year 13 funding totals US$301,333, of which US$226,000 is federal. Confirm what funds remain before you budget.
Source: DECD, State Trade Expansion Program page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
STEP grants can cover foreign trade shows, trade missions, Commerce Department services, international marketing materials, website translation and export training, but not travel, lodging or employee wages.
Source: DECD, State Trade Expansion Program page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
SBA's directory lists Connecticut's State Trade Expansion Program awards as US$240,000 for fiscal 2024 and US$200,000 for fiscal 2023.
Source: SBA, STEP awardee directory (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station inspects plants at the grower's site and issues phytosanitary certificates for plants shipped abroad. Call two weeks before you ship.
Source: Agricultural Experiment Station, plant export certification (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 2 more
The Department of Agriculture runs export programs with Food Export Northeast and says its market promotion programs run at 50 percent of the cost.
Source: Department of Agriculture, export assistance programs (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Connecticut Small Business Development Center has certified international trade advisors who help with export projects, markets, shipping, payment methods and export financing.
Source: CTSBDC, international trade advising page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Export requirements across the United States: see the steps in Export from the United States
5. Steps to export
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Exporting from Connecticut
- Book export counseling with a Connecticut Small Business Development Center international trade advisor to check export readiness, markets, shipping and financing.Connecticut Small Business Development CenterOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CTSBDC, international trade advising page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Ask the Department of Economic and Community Development about a State Trade Expansion Program grant before you book trade shows, translation or export training.Connecticut Department of Economic and Community DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Office of Manufacturing, DECD State Trade Expansion Program, November 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 7, 2025
- For food and farm products, contact the Department of Agriculture's export contact or Food Export Northeast about export programs.Connecticut Department of AgricultureOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of Agriculture, export assistance programs (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- For live plants, call the Agricultural Experiment Station before you ship to arrange an inspection and a phytosanitary certificate.The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment StationTwo weeks before shippingOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Agricultural Experiment Station, plant export certification (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 2 more export steps
- Classify your product and check whether it needs an export license before you ship.Bureau of Industry and SecurityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: International Trade Administration, United States export regulations (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- File electronic export information in the Automated Export System when goods under one Schedule B number are worth more than US$2,500, or need a license.U.S. Census BureauMore than US$2,500 per Schedule B numberOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: International Trade Administration, filing export shipments in AES (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
6. Organizations that help exporters
Start with DECD and CTSBDC. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Export development and market information
- Get advice
State economic development agency
DECD
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Runs the State Trade Expansion Program grant for small exporters and publishes the state's business incentives and programs for expanding companies.
Visit DECD (opens in a new tab)Source: Office of Manufacturing, DECD State Trade Expansion Program, November 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 7, 2025
- Get advice
Small business advising network
CTSBDC
Connecticut Small Business Development Center
Provides certified export advisors who help small companies assess exportability, find markets, arrange shipping and payment, and prepare financing.
Visit CTSBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: CTSBDC, international trade advising page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Regional food export association
Food Export Northeast
Food Export USA–Northeast
Regional body
Works with member state agriculture departments, Connecticut's among them, to help small and mid-sized food and beverage companies export.
Visit Food Export Northeast (opens in a new tab)Source: Food Export Northeast, Northeast member states page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Department of Revenue Services
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
Registers businesses for state taxes in its myconneCT system, where they also file returns and make payments.
Visit Department of Revenue Services (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Revenue Services, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State labor and unemployment agency
Department of Labor
Connecticut Department of Labor
Issues employer account numbers and collects unemployment insurance taxes in ReEmployCT from companies that hire in Connecticut.
Visit Department of Labor (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Labor, unemployment insurance tax (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
State port authority
Port Authority
Connecticut Port Authority
Supports development of Connecticut's three deepwater ports and small harbors and describes the state's four foreign-trade zones and their grantees.
Visit Port Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Connecticut Port Authority, foreign-trade zones page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
Department of Agriculture
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Offers export programs for food and farm companies with Food Export Northeast and lists a marketing representative as its export contact.
Visit Department of Agriculture (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Agriculture, export assistance programs (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State plant inspection agency
Agricultural Experiment Station
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Inspects plants for growers and issues phytosanitary certificates for plants shipped to other countries.
Show 3 more organizations
- Meet requirements
State licensing agency
Department of Consumer Protection
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Licenses businesses and trades such as accounting, real estate, construction and retail, with applications through the state's eLicense site.
Visit Department of Consumer Protection (opens in a new tab)Source: Business.CT.gov, business licenses and permits (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
Insurance Department
Connecticut Insurance Department
Regulates insurance companies and gives licensing guidance to those that sell insurance in Connecticut.
Visit Insurance Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Business.CT.gov, business licenses and permits (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State financial regulator
Department of Banking
Connecticut Department of Banking
Regulates state-chartered banks and credit unions, securities and consumer credit, and licenses firms in those fields.
Visit Department of Banking (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Banking, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
State business association
CBIA
Connecticut Business & Industry Association
Represents Connecticut employers on state policy and offers members human resources, safety and manufacturing coalition services.
Visit CBIA (opens in a new tab)Source: CBIA, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
State manufacturers' association
ManufactureCT
Connects Connecticut manufacturers through membership, a member directory and events.
Visit ManufactureCT (opens in a new tab)Source: ManufactureCT, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
7. Worth knowing
Aerospace concentration
The Governor's office says the aerospace and defense industry accounts for more than 32 percent of Connecticut's total exports.
What to do: Check whether your product needs an export license before you ship aerospace or defense items.
Source: Governor of Connecticut, press release, June 10, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State export grant funding
Connecticut's State Trade Expansion Program Year 13 funding totals US$301,333, and SBA's directory lists the state's fiscal 2024 award as US$240,000.
What to do: Ask DECD what funds remain before you budget for trade shows or translation.
Sources: DECD, State Trade Expansion Program page (opens in a new tab); SBA, STEP awardee directory (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Export from the United States
8. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Connecticut project.
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Promote:Connecticut is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.