Promote:
Export from Louisiana
A short guide for companies selling from Louisiana: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Louisiana sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$93.4 billion
Merchandise exports were US$93,391.5 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$41.7 billion
Manufactured goods exports were US$41,724.5 million in 2025, 44.7 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. Natural gas and other petroleum gases (HS 2711)US$28.8 billion
- 2. Refined petroleum products (HS 2710)US$20.5 billion
- 3. Soybeans (HS 1201)US$8.66 billion
- 4. Corn (HS 1005)US$7.67 billion
- 5. Crude oil (HS 2709)US$3.45 billion
- 6. Soybean meal (HS 2304)US$2.47 billion
- 7. Petroleum coke (HS 2713)US$1.43 billion
- 8. Methanol and other alcohols (HS 2905)US$1.22 billion
Show 12 more products
- 9. Wheat (HS 1001)US$960.2 million
- 10. Organo-inorganic compounds (HS 2931)US$845.8 million
- 11. Starch and sugar residues for feed (HS 2303)US$771.7 million
- 12. Soybean oil (HS 1507)US$756.4 million
- 13. Synthetic rubber (HS 4002)US$748.3 million
- 14. Rice (HS 1006)US$730 million
- 15. Polyethylene resin (HS 3901)US$670.2 million
- 16. Cyclic hydrocarbons (HS 2902)US$620.2 million
- 17. Polyvinyl chloride resin (HS 3904)US$607.3 million
- 18. Caustic soda (HS 2815)US$581.3 million
- 19. Coal (HS 2701)US$563.3 million
- 20. Wood chips and fuel wood (HS 4401)US$559.8 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$92,692.4 million, the Census Bureau's current 2025 total in its state export data. The exports total shown, US$93,391.5 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
- Netherlands7.4%
- Mexico6.2%
- Brazil5.2%
- United Kingdom5.2%
- Colombia4.9%
- Egypt4.7%
- Germany4%
- Japan3.9%
Show 2 more destinations
- France3.7%
- Belgium3.6%
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
Extractive lines (natural gas and other petroleum gases, refined petroleum products and crude oil) make up about 59% of Louisiana’s goods exports, so the totals mostly describe that trade. For another product, look at demand for your own line, market by market.
Sources: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Based on: Top goods exports and goods exports
Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.
3. Trade agreements
For Louisiana: the United States’ agreements apply
4. What Louisiana runs for exporters
Only what Louisiana itself runs or asks of exporters, each with its source.
The Small Business Administration's directory lists Louisiana's State Trade Expansion Program award at US$325,000 for fiscal year 2024, down from US$450,000 for fiscal year 2023.
Source: Small Business Administration, STEP awardees directory (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Louisiana's recommended fiscal 2027 budget for Louisiana Economic Development lists US$800,000 for State Trade Expansion Program grants and US$550,000 for foreign representatives in key international markets.
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Economic Development budget, March 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2027
The Department of Agriculture and Forestry's budget presentation says its agricultural and environmental sciences office facilitates agricultural exports through certification of products.
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Agriculture and Forestry budget, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Secretary of State charges US$20 per document for an apostille or authentication of a public document for use abroad, and takes walk-in and mailed requests.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, apostilles and authentications (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 2 more
The LSU Agricultural Center reported in September 2025 that over 450 Louisiana fruit and vegetable growers had completed Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training to meet the federal Produce Safety Rule.
Source: LSU AgCenter, food safety training outcomes, September 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 8, 2025
The Louisiana Department of Health charges US$15 for each export certificate or certificate of free sale it issues to manufacturers and distributors it regulates, from July 1, 2025.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 514 of 2025 digest (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
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 Louisiana
- Ask Louisiana Economic Development about its international commerce office and State Trade Expansion Program grants before you book market research or trade shows.Louisiana Economic DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Economic Development budget, March 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Contact the United States Commercial Service in New Orleans or Shreveport for export counseling; the first office listed is New Orleans.U.S. Commercial ServiceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: International Trade Administration, New Orleans office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If you sell fruit or vegetables, take the LSU Agricultural Center's Produce Safety Alliance grower training and keep the certificate buyers may ask for.LSU Agricultural CenterOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: LSU AgCenter, food safety training outcomes, September 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 8, 2025
- If a buyer needs Louisiana documents legalized, use the Secretary of State's apostille and authentication service.Louisiana Secretary of StateUS$20 per documentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, apostilles and authentications (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 over US$2,500, or need a license.U.S. Census BureauOver 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 LED. 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
LED
Louisiana Economic Development
Runs the state's business incentive and recruitment work, its international commerce office, and State Trade Expansion Program grants, according to the legislature's budget deck.
Visit LED (opens in a new tab)Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Economic Development budget, March 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax and revenue department
Department of Revenue
Louisiana Department of Revenue
Collects state taxes, processes taxpayer registration and returns, audits tax compliance and assists taxpayers, according to the legislature's budget deck.
- Meet requirements
Port authority
Port NOLA
Port of New Orleans
Runs the Port of New Orleans and is developing the Louisiana International Terminal, which received its federal permit in August 2026.
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Port authority
PortSL
Port of South Louisiana
Governs a 54-mile Mississippi River port district that handles grain exports and other cargo, and publishes its tariff and foreign-trade zone schedules.
Visit PortSL (opens in a new tab)Source: Port of South Louisiana, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
University agriculture and extension division
LSU AgCenter
LSU Agricultural Center
Trains growers, processors and farmworkers in food safety, including the Produce Safety Rule, and publishes yearly Louisiana agricultural summaries.
Visit LSU AgCenter (opens in a new tab)Source: LSU AgCenter, food safety training outcomes, September 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 8, 2025
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
Agriculture and Forestry
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Certifies products for agricultural exports, regulates seed, pesticides and fertilizer, and monitors plant pests, according to the legislature's budget deck.
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
Insurance Department
Louisiana Department of Insurance
Licenses insurers, producers and adjusters in Louisiana and acts as the state's insurance consumer advocate.
- Meet requirements
State financial institutions regulator
Financial Institutions
Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
Licenses and supervises state-chartered banks, licensed lenders and securities businesses through its depository, non-depository and securities divisions.
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chemical industry association
LCA
Louisiana Chemistry Association
Speaks for chemical manufacturers, vendors and suppliers with state and local officials, and holds an annual meeting and a reverse trade show.
Visit LCA (opens in a new tab)Source: Louisiana Chemistry Association, home page, April 2026 items (opens in a new tab) · as of April 28, 2026
7. Worth knowing
Port capacity
The Port of New Orleans reports that on August 17, 2026 the Army Corps of Engineers granted the federal permit for the Louisiana International Terminal, a new container port.
What to do: Ask the port when container service will open before you schedule shipments through it.
Source: Port of New Orleans, Louisiana International Terminal permit, August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 17, 2026
State export funding
Louisiana's recommended fiscal 2027 budget lists US$800,000 for State Trade Expansion Program grants, and the Small Business Administration's directory lists US$325,000 for fiscal 2024 and US$450,000 for fiscal 2023.
What to do: Ask Louisiana Economic Development which activities the grants pay for before you commit to a mission.
Sources: Louisiana House Fiscal Division, Economic Development budget review, March 2026 (opens in a new tab); Small Business Administration, STEP awardees directory (opens in a new tab) · as of March 10, 2026
Grain price shifts
The LSU Agricultural Center reports that Louisiana soybean farm-gate value fell by more than 33 percent in 2025 while corn value rose by more than 75 percent.
What to do: Check current crop and price reports before you commit grain volumes to a buyer.
Source: LSU AgCenter, 2025 Louisiana agriculture summary (opens in a new tab) · as of August 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 Louisiana project.
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Promote:Louisiana 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.