Minnesota exports of agricultural, mining and manufactured goods were valued at $6.6 billion in the second quarter of 2026 (April – June), a 14% increase (up more than $800 million) over the second quarter of 2025, according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

"We're happy to see a healthy rebound in Minnesota's second quarter exports. Businesses may have seen some relief from the U.S. Supreme Court's mid-February ruling that tariffs applied last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were not legal," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "However, now we are deeply concerned about the federal government's escalating tariff situation with Canada, which began last month with the application of a Depression Era law that had never previously been used. Canada is Minnesota's largest trading partner and we are working to maintain a positive relationship with our neighbors to the north."

Minnesota's second quarter growth in exports was fueled by gains in North America ($2.6 billion, up 23%), Europe ($1.5 billion, up 11%; led by Austria, Germany and Belgium) and Asia ($1.7 billion, up 6%). In North America, exports to Mexico showed continued strength (up $306 million or up 34%) and exports to Canada rebounded (up $178 million or up 14%).

Notable advances were also seen in the Caribbean, Central America and South America (up 14%, led by Costa Rica) and in Africa (up 51%, led by Algeria). Costa Rica's rank has been climbing, and this quarter marked its debut in Minnesota's top 10 export countries, driven by surge in optic and medical products (up 71% to $102 million).

All of Minnesota's top 10 exports product categories showed growth in the second quarter, including solid growth in the top three: optic and medical products ($1.2 billion, up 7%), electrical equipment ($1.2 billion, up 21%; led by Canada and Mexico) and machinery ($968 million, up 13%; led by Mexico and Canada).

Other categories showing notable growth were vehicles ($473 million, up 20%; Canada and Mexico comprise 82% of the market), oil seeds, misc. grain ($213 million, up 116%; driven by a 154% growth surge in soybeans exports to Mexico) and fertilizers ($118 million, up 56%; propelled by Canada, the primary market for these goods). Food by-products (up 24%), also saw notable growth, while ores, slag, ash (down 25%), meat (down 19%) and sugar, confectionary (down 38%) had sharp declines.

Mineral fuel, oil (such as motor fuel and industrial oils) exports from Minnesota – a category that historically, has been almost entirely sold to Canada and shows prolonged and profound swings that often skew the state's overall quarterly performance -- ticked up to $61 million (up 110%), driven by robust gains in Mexico (up $13 million) and Brazil (up $12 million).

"Our network of foreign offices helps Minnesota companies find new international business opportunities and navigate the landscape of tariffs and countermeasures," said Gabrielle Gerbaud, Executive Director of the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) at DEED. "It's great to see growth in markets where we have taken recent trade and business development missions, such as Canada, Germany and Japan, where we also have a foreign office."

The full second quarter 2026 report is available on DEED's website in the Export and Trade Statistics section.