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Export from West Virginia
A short guide for companies selling from West Virginia: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What West Virginia sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$4.63 billion
Merchandise exports were US$4,627.7 million in 2025, as first published, including re-exports of US$350.6 million.
Source: Census Bureau, Exhibit 2 state export origin, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Manufactured goods exports
US$3.84 billion
Manufactured goods exports were US$3,838.8 million in 2025, 83.0 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. Gasoline engines (HS 8407)US$1.02 billion
- 2. Epoxy resins and polyethers (HS 3907)US$370.5 million
- 3. Civilian aircraft, engines and partsUS$321.5 million
- 4. Coal (HS 2701)US$269.8 million
- 5. Motor vehicle parts (HS 8708)US$268.4 million
- 6. Nylon and polyamide resins (HS 3908)US$194.3 million
- 7. Polypropylene and olefin polymers (HS 3902)US$128.4 million
- 8. Surfactants and cleaning preparations (HS 3402)US$118 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Aluminum plate and sheet (HS 7606)US$111.5 million
- 10. Aluminum bars and profiles (HS 7604)US$69.9 million
- 11. Refined petroleum oils (HS 2710)US$64.6 million
- 12. Catalysts and reaction accelerators (HS 3815)US$60.3 million
- 13. Orthopedic and prosthetic devices (HS 9021)US$49.2 million
- 14. Silicones in primary forms (HS 3910)US$48.7 million
- 15. Vinyl polymers in primary forms (HS 3905)US$47.7 million
- 16. Molybdenum ore (HS 2613)US$46.5 million
- 17. Synthetic rubber (HS 4002)US$41.7 million
- 18. Polyethylene in primary forms (HS 3901)US$41.3 million
- 19. Aluminum scrap (HS 7602)US$41.2 million
- 20. Aldehydes (HS 2912)US$39.7 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$4,647.8 million, the Census Bureau's current 2025 total in its state export data. The exports total shown, US$4,627.7 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
- Canada44.1%
- China6.9%
- Germany5%
- Brazil4.8%
- Netherlands4.3%
- Belgium4.2%
- Mexico4%
- India3.4%
Show 2 more destinations
- South Korea3%
- Japan2.5%
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, surfactants and cleaning preparations and aluminum bars and profiles as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only West Virginia’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
Motor vehicle parts grew 198% from 2024 to 2025; surfactants and cleaning preparations grew 42% 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
Canada takes 44.1% of West Virginia’s goods exports. If you sell there, its import rules and buyer channels come first; either way, compare at least one other market before you commit.
Source: Census Bureau, state exports by product and destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Based on: Where the goods go
Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.
3. Trade agreements
For West Virginia: the United States’ agreements apply
4. What West Virginia runs for exporters
Only what West Virginia itself runs or asks of exporters, each with its source.
The state's One Stop Business Portal lists the state's export help as the First STEP-Next STEP Export Assistance Program, trade shows, trade missions, foreign buyer delegations and market research.
Source: West Virginia One Stop Business Portal, exports and overseas development (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
The United States Commercial Service has offices in Charleston and Wheeling, and the Charleston office also hosts a Rural Export Center.
Source: ITA, Commercial Service Charleston contact page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
The West Virginia District Export Council is a volunteer group of experienced exporters and service providers that offers export mentoring and trade education, its February 2025 notice says.
Source: ITA bulletin, West Virginia District Export Council, February 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 5, 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 West Virginia
- Ask the Division of Economic Development about the First STEP-Next STEP program, trade shows, missions and market research before you pick a market.West Virginia Division of Economic DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: West Virginia One Stop Business Portal, exports and overseas development (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Ask the United States Commercial Service in Wheeling or Charleston for export counseling and, for a rural company, Rural Export Center market research.U.S. Commercial ServiceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ITA, Rural Export Center (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Ask the West Virginia District Export Council for mentoring from experienced exporters and service providers.West Virginia District Export CouncilOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ITA bulletin, West Virginia District Export Council, February 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 5, 2025
- 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: ITA, United States export regulations (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Show 1 more export step
- 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: ITA, filing through the Automated Export System (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
6. Organizations that help exporters
Start with Division of Economic Development and Commercial Service Wheeling. 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
Division of Economic Development
West Virginia Division of Economic Development
Runs the state's economic development programs, export assistance among them, and the BUILD WV housing tax incentive, as a division of the Department of Commerce.
Federal export assistance office
Commercial Service Wheeling
U.S. Commercial Service Wheeling
Counsels West Virginia companies on their first and later export sales and links them to the Commercial Service's global network of trade specialists.
Visit Commercial Service Wheeling (opens in a new tab)Source: ITA, Commercial Service Wheeling page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
State Tax Department
West Virginia State Tax Department
Registers businesses for state taxes and issues the business registration certificate; its forms cover sales and use tax and withholding.
Visit State Tax Department (opens in a new tab)Source: West Virginia State Tax Department, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
University manufacturing assistance center
MAMC
Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center
Helps manufacturers with quality management systems, skills training and technical services, and opens its equipment to makers.
Visit MAMC (opens in a new tab)Source: Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
Insurance Commissioner
West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
Regulates insurers and publishes insurance bulletins, including a 2025 legislation summary and 2026 notices on pricing and drug rebates.
Visit Insurance Commissioner (opens in a new tab)Source: West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Volunteer exporter council
District Export Council
West Virginia District Export Council
Gives West Virginia companies export mentoring, trade education and outreach events alongside the Commercial Service.
- Get advice
Manufacturers trade association
Manufacturers Association
West Virginia Manufacturers Association
Represents manufacturers at the capitol and gives members access to experts on environment, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, tax and safety.
Visit Manufacturers Association (opens in a new tab)Source: West Virginia Manufacturers Association, about the group (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
7. Worth knowing
Severance tax collections
The State Budget Office reports severance tax collections of US$471,349,000 from July 2025 to May 2026, 129 percent of the estimate and 36 percent above a year earlier.
What to do: Ask the State Tax Department whether severance tax applies to what you extract or process before you price exports.
Source: State Budget Office, revenue collections report, May 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 1, 2026
State export help funding
Under House Bill 2008, in effect July 1, 2025, the Division of Economic Development runs the Economic Development Promotion and Closing Fund, for marketing, international development and export assistance.
What to do: Ask the Division of Economic Development what export assistance it offers before you schedule a market visit.
Sources: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2008 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab); West Virginia Code article 5B-2, Division of Economic Development (opens in a new tab) · as of July 1, 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 West Virginia project.
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Promote:West Virginia 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.