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Export from Nebraska
A short guide for companies selling from Nebraska: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Nebraska sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$7.79 billion
Merchandise exports were US$7,787.9 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$5.86 billion
Manufactured goods exports were US$5,856.5 million in 2025, 75.2 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. Fresh or chilled beef (HS 0201)US$929.2 million
- 2. Frozen beef (HS 0202)US$651.5 million
- 3. Corn (HS 1005)US$632.2 million
- 4. Soybeans (HS 1201)US$475.2 million
- 5. Harvesting and threshing machines (HS 8433)US$371.1 million
- 6. Vaccines, blood products and cultures (HS 3002)US$320.6 million
- 7. Pork (HS 0203)US$309.2 million
- 8. Beef and pork offal (HS 0206)US$239.5 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Soybean meal (HS 2304)US$226.7 million
- 10. Spraying and dispersing machinery (HS 8424)US$202.7 million
- 11. Petroleum gases (HS 2711)US$184.4 million
- 12. Medical and surgical instruments (HS 9018)US$176.1 million
- 13. Physical and chemical analysis instruments (HS 9027)US$147.4 million
- 14. Wheat (HS 1001)US$133.2 million
- 15. Starch and distilling residues (HS 2303)US$109.1 million
- 16. Civilian aircraft, engines and partsUS$108.5 million
- 17. Animal feed preparations (HS 2309)US$98.1 million
- 18. Beauty and skin-care products (HS 3304)US$97.6 million
- 19. Packaged medicines (HS 3004)US$84.5 million
- 20. Sugars and syrups (HS 1702)US$83.8 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$7,811.9 million, the Census Bureau's current 2025 total in its state export data. The exports total shown, US$7,787.9 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
- Mexico24.6%
- Canada19.8%
- South Korea9.3%
- Japan7.9%
- China3.9%
- Taiwan2.9%
- Australia2.6%
- Germany1.9%
Show 2 more destinations
- Netherlands1.9%
- Belgium1.6%
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
The research marks corn, soybeans and harvesting and threshing machines as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Nebraska’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
Corn grew 95% from 2024 to 2025; wheat grew 32% 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 Nebraska: the United States’ agreements apply
4. What Nebraska runs for exporters
Only what Nebraska itself runs or asks of exporters, each with its source.
The Department of Economic Development lists two foreign trade offices, the Nebraska Center Japan and the Nebraska Center Germany.
Source: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, business development (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Department of Economic Development runs the State Trade Expansion Program for Nebraska, a grant paid by reimbursement to eligible small Nebraska businesses and funded by the Small Business Administration.
Source: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, STEP page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The program page says its year 13 grants need matching funds equal to 25 percent of eligible direct costs. Confirm the current terms with the department.
Source: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, STEP page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Department of Agriculture issues a Certificate of Free Sale for food and feed made in Nebraska at US$50 for each certificate, or US$75 for same-day rush service.
Source: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, certificates of free sale (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 4 more
The Department of Agriculture's Entomology Program issues federal phytosanitary certificates for plants and plant products under Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service authority, and state certificates for interstate movement.
Source: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, export certification program (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Secretary of State charges US$10 for each apostille or authentication on each notarization, and normal processing takes 3 to 5 business days from receipt.
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State, apostilles and authentications (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Nebraska Business Development Center lists export strategy advice, market research, export channels and pricing, and export licenses and regulation among its export services.
Source: Nebraska Business Development Center, export strategy (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Nebraska MEP, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln program, offers ISO 9001, food safety and supply-chain services to Nebraska manufacturers.
Source: Nebraska MEP, home page and news (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 Nebraska
- Ask the Department of Economic Development's international trade team about export counseling and the State Trade Expansion Program.Nebraska Department of Economic DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, exporting (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Ask the Nebraska Business Development Center about export strategy, market research and export regulations.Nebraska Business Development CenterOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Nebraska Business Development Center, export strategy (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- For food and feed products, request a Certificate of Free Sale from the Department of Agriculture.Nebraska Department of AgricultureUS$50 for each certificate; US$75 for same-day rush serviceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, certificates of free sale (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- For plants and plant products, ask the Department of Agriculture's Entomology Program for an export phytosanitary certificate.Nebraska Department of AgricultureOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, export certification program (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 3 more export steps
- If a buyer needs Nebraska documents legalized, send the request and payment to the Secretary of State for an apostille or authentication.Nebraska Secretary of StateUS$10 for each notarization; 3 to 5 business daysOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State, apostilles and authentications (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- 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, export filing in AES (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
6. Organizations that help exporters
Start with International Trade Team and NBDC. 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
State international trade office
International Trade Team
International Trade and Investment, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Counsels Nebraska businesses on entering and expanding international markets, and runs the State Trade Expansion Program.
Visit International Trade Team (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, exporting (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
Small business advising network
NBDC
Nebraska Business Development Center
Gives export strategy, market research and export regulation advice to Nebraska businesses through its small business development center network.
Visit NBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska Business Development Center, export strategy (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Revenue Department
Nebraska Department of Revenue
Registers businesses for state taxes, administers state tax incentives and publishes tax law changes.
Visit Revenue Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska Department of Revenue, starting a business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
State agriculture agency
Agriculture Department
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Issues Certificates of Free Sale and export phytosanitary certificates and lists the foreign real estate ownership act.
- Meet requirements
State environmental permit regulator
Water, Energy, and Environment Department
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment
Issues state environmental permits and runs a one-stop permit assistance program for new Nebraska projects.
Show 3 more organizations
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
Insurance Department
Nebraska Department of Insurance
Regulates insurers and insurance producers that a company meets when it sells or buys insurance in Nebraska.
Visit Insurance Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska Department of Insurance, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Manufacturing extension program
Nebraska MEP
Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Helps Nebraska manufacturers improve operations, including quality systems, and find suppliers through its sourcing database.
Visit Nebraska MEP (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska MEP, home page and news (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State banking and finance regulator
Banking Department
Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance
Regulates state-chartered banks, lenders and securities firms that a foreign-owned company meets in Nebraska.
Visit Banking Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
State wheat commodity board
NWB
Nebraska Wheat Board
Invests the state's wheat checkoff in international market development, including bringing overseas buyers to see Nebraska's wheat supply chain.
Visit NWB (opens in a new tab)Source: Nebraska Wheat Board, news item, July 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 1, 2026
- Get advice
International trade association
MITA
Midwest International Trade Association
Regional body
Runs seminars, networking events and conferences for companies that import and export in the Omaha area and the Midwest.
Visit MITA (opens in a new tab)Source: Midwest International Trade Association, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
7. Worth knowing
Trade-exposed industries
The Kansas City Fed's June 2026 Nebraska Economist found employment in Nebraska's most trade-exposed industries lower than a year earlier throughout 2025 and 2026, amid tariff costs and uncertainty.
What to do: Confirm input costs and delivery terms with Nebraska suppliers before you quote a price.
Source: Kansas City Federal Reserve, Nebraska Economist, June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 26, 2026
Farm credit conditions
The Kansas City Fed's second-quarter 2026 survey found farm loan repayment problems similar to a year ago, and slightly more pronounced in Nebraska and Kansas than elsewhere in its district.
What to do: Ask Nebraska farm suppliers about payment terms and supply before you commit to a delivery schedule.
Source: Kansas City Federal Reserve, agricultural credit survey, August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 14, 2026
Export data undercount
The Kansas City Fed's 2025 Nebraska Economist put exports at about 4 percent of state GDP and said official data likely undercount them, crediting some to the port of exit.
What to do: Treat Nebraska's official export figures as a likely lower bound when you size its supply.
Source: Kansas City Federal Reserve, Nebraska Economist, April 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 18, 2025
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 Nebraska project.
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Promote:Nebraska 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.