Promote:
Export from Kentucky
A short guide for companies selling from Kentucky: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Kentucky sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$50.6 billion
Merchandise exports were US$50,629.9 million in 2025, as first published, including re-exports of US$11,829.4 million.
Source: Census Bureau, Exhibit 2 state export origin, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Manufactured goods exports
US$37.7 billion
Manufactured goods exports were US$37,706.2 million in 2025, 74.5 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$22.9 billion
- 2. Vaccines, blood products and cultures (HS 3002)US$2.69 billion
- 3. Passenger cars (HS 8703)US$2.41 billion
- 4. Trucks (HS 8704)US$1.95 billion
- 5. Motor vehicle parts (HS 8708)US$1.18 billion
- 6. Computers (HS 8471)US$1.07 billion
- 7. Gears, shafts and transmission parts (HS 8483)US$1.06 billion
- 8. Packaged medicines (HS 3004)US$898.5 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Whiskey and other spirits (HS 2208)US$798.2 million
- 10. Turbojets and gas turbines (HS 8411)US$783.4 million
- 11. Phones and network equipment (HS 8517)US$762.9 million
- 12. Gasoline piston engines (HS 8407)US$502.4 million
- 13. Coal (HS 2701)US$487.5 million
- 14. Analysis and testing instruments (HS 9027)US$487.3 million
- 15. Diagnostic and laboratory reagents (HS 3822)US$465.1 million
- 16. Office machine parts (HS 8473)US$442.8 million
- 17. Insulated wire and cable (HS 8544)US$334.5 million
- 18. Filters and centrifuges (HS 8421)US$281.9 million
- 19. Valves and taps (HS 8481)US$278.7 million
- 20. Aluminum plate and sheet (HS 7606)US$276.6 million
- Origin of movement is where goods began their journey to the port, not always where made. For farm and mining goods the state shown generally reflects 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$51,651.7 million, the Census Bureau's current 2025 total in its state export data. The exports total shown, US$50,629.9 million, is Exhibit 2's figure as first published, so the two differ. 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
- Canada18.2%
- United Kingdom10.5%
- France10.3%
- China9.1%
- Mexico7.7%
- Brazil7.6%
- Malaysia4.8%
- Singapore4.3%
Show 2 more destinations
- Netherlands3.7%
- Austria2.7%
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 motor vehicle parts, computers and gears, shafts and transmission parts as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Kentucky’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
Insulated wire and cable grew 68% from 2024 to 2025; valves and taps grew 67% 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 Kentucky: the United States’ agreements apply
4. What Kentucky runs for exporters
Only what Kentucky itself runs or asks of exporters, each with its source.
The Cabinet for Economic Development operates two international offices, an Asia office in Tokyo and a European office in Hamburg, to promote investment and trade.
Source: Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, international offices (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Kentucky STEP grant reimburses eligible small businesses for export costs such as training, trade shows, website fees, patent filings and foreign market sales visits.
Source: Kentucky Export Initiative, export assistance page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Kentucky's State Entomologist, the state plant regulatory official, sits at the University of Kentucky rather than a state agriculture department, and inspects plants for phytosanitary certificates for exports.
Source: State Entomologist, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Phytosanitary applications go through the federal PCIT system to the Lexington state duty station; allow up to 7 to 10 days, and the fee varies with type and value.
Source: State Entomologist, export certification page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more
The Kentucky SBDC's International Trade Team gives no-cost one-on-one trade advising, export business planning, foreign market research and trade training.
Source: Kentucky SBDC, exporting 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 Kentucky
- Take the export readiness assessment and ask the Kentucky Export Initiative for one-on-one counseling before you pick a market.Kentucky Export InitiativeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kentucky Export Initiative, export assistance page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Ask the initiative which export costs the State Trade Expansion Program grant reimburses before you pay for a trade show, website or training.Kentucky Cabinet for Economic DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kentucky Export Initiative, STEP grant page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Ask the Kentucky SBDC's International Trade Team for no-cost trade advising and export business planning.Kentucky Small Business Development CenterOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kentucky SBDC, exporting page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If you ship plants or plant products, apply for a phytosanitary certificate through the PCIT system and allow 7 to 10 days.University of Kentucky Office of the State EntomologistOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: State Entomologist, export certification page (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: Commercial Service, United States export regulations (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- File electronic export information in the Automated Export System when a shipment needs it.U.S. Census BureauOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Commercial Service, filing through the Automated Export System (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
6. Organizations that help exporters
Start with Kentucky Export Initiative and Kentucky SBDC. 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 export promotion program
Kentucky Export Initiative
Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Export Initiative
Runs one-on-one export counseling, trade education and the State Trade Expansion Program grant for Kentucky small and mid-sized companies.
Visit Kentucky Export Initiative (opens in a new tab)Source: Kentucky Export Initiative, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
Small business advising network
Kentucky SBDC
Kentucky Small Business Development Center
Gives Kentucky companies no-cost trade advising, export business planning, foreign market research and trade training through its International Trade Team.
Visit Kentucky SBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Kentucky SBDC, exporting page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Department of Revenue
Kentucky Department of Revenue
Issues retailer and seller permits for each place of business, the first step in collecting Kentucky sales tax.
Visit Department of Revenue (opens in a new tab)Source: Kentucky Revised Statutes, section 139.240 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 1, 2008
- Meet requirements
Inland river port authority
Louisville Riverport
Louisville and Jefferson County Riverport Authority
Runs a public riverport in Louisville that handles barge cargo, with loading equipment bought through the state's riverport grant program.
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Inland river port authority
Paducah Riverport
Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority
Runs the Paducah inland river port, with barge, rail and container-on-barge handling, and is the grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 294.
Air cargo and passenger airport
CVG
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Runs the Northern Kentucky airport, which handled 1.7 million tons of air cargo in 2025 and hosts two global air cargo hubs.
Visit CVG (opens in a new tab)Source: CVG Airport, fact sheet, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
- Meet requirements
Plant health and export certification
State Entomologist
University of Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist
Inspects plants and issues phytosanitary certificates for exports from Kentucky, and licenses nursery stock sellers.
Visit State Entomologist (opens in a new tab)Source: State Entomologist, export certification page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
Department of Agriculture
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Runs a Farm to School team that connects Kentucky farmers and processors with school districts buying Kentucky-grown food.
Show 1 more organization
Manufacturing extension center
Kentucky MEP
Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Helps Kentucky manufacturers improve operations and quality systems, including ISO, IATF, VDA and AS9100 certification.
Visit Kentucky MEP (opens in a new tab)Source: Kentucky MEP, operations and efficiency page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Regional chamber of commerce
Commerce Lexington
Commerce Lexington Inc.
Supports Lexington-area business with economic development resources, a business directory, small business help and relocation guides.
Visit Commerce Lexington (opens in a new tab)Source: Commerce Lexington, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
7. Worth knowing
STEP budget
The initiative's FY25 State Trade Expansion Program budget was US$376,000, with a federal share of US$282,000.
What to do: Ask the initiative what the current year's grant funds cover before you commit a cost.
Sources: Kentucky Export Initiative, STEP grant page (opens in a new tab); Kentucky Export Initiative, export assistance page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Riverport grant funding
Kentucky's budget gave public riverports US$500,000 in each of fiscal 2025 and 2026 through the Kentucky Riverport Improvement program, as 80/20 matching grants for equipment and dredging.
What to do: Ask the riverport you will use what handling equipment it has before you book barge freight.
Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, riverport projects update, July 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Plant export certificates
Kentucky's plant regulatory official is a University of Kentucky office, which inspects plant exports for phytosanitary certificates and allows 7 to 10 days.
What to do: Apply through PCIT early, and confirm the fee with the office.
Sources: State Entomologist, export certification page (opens in a new tab); State Entomologist, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Sales tax on services
From August 1, 2026, Kentucky's 6 percent sales tax also covers data brokering services, added to its list of taxed services.
What to do: Check whether the services your project buys are taxed before you set a budget.
Sources: Kentucky Revised Statutes, section 139.200 (opens in a new tab); Kentucky Acts 2026, chapter 161 (House Bill 757) (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 Kentucky project.
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Promote:Kentucky 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 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.