Why China Matters to Louisiana
Louisiana achieved a record-high goods export value of $4.5 billion to China in 2022, marking an 8% increase. Building on a series of 20-year LNG supply contracts with Chinese companies, Louisiana has emerged as the center of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export boom and a significant player in American energy exports to China. At $2.9 billion, oil and gas constitute over half of the state’s 2022 total exports to China. Several Chinese companies have made significant investments in the state, such as Shandong Yuhuang Chemical, a Chinese methanol manufacturer, which invested $1.85 billion in 2014 and created approximately 400 direct jobs. In addition, Sea Mark Management Inc. & Yuan Hua Technical & Supply Corporation, another major Chinese presence in Louisiana, arrived to offer logistics, ship agency, and technical support. Louisiana is well positioned for further trade expansion after the dredging of a key 250-mile stretch at the mouth of the Mississippi river to greater depths to accommodate larger vessels with higher capacity is completed. Prior to the pandemic, the state also attracted many Chinese visitors to its cultural centers such as New Orleans. Many of Louisiana’s universities have well established exchange programs with Chinese universities. Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, representing Louisiana, were part of a bipartisan delegation of six U.S. Senators who visited China in 2023. After undergoing a host of amendments following protests by Chinese American residents at the State Capitol, House Bill 537 was passed in 2023, banning those connected to “foreign adversaries” from buying or leasing property in Louisiana.
Louisiana achieved a record-high goods export value of $4.5 billion to China in 2022, marking an 8% increase. Building on a series of 20-year LNG supply contracts with Chinese companies, Louisiana has emerged as the center of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export boom and a significant player in American energy exports to China. At $2.9 billion, oil and gas constitute over half of the state’s 2022 total exports to China.
This growth stands in stark contrast to the low of $1.5 billion in 2019, amidst the trade war. The 25% tariff imposed by China on soybeans sideswept Louisiana as China has historically bought 60% of the state’s crop; this hit soybean producers hard, many reporting that government bailouts did not cover the losses, with smaller farms suffering the most. Ports also felt the pain, as falling shipments of steel and other commodities saw bulk cargo volumes dropping by 25% at the Port of New Orleans in 2019. The chemicals industry (of which Louisiana second largest exporting state) was also hurt by the trade war; to illustrate, two Chinese chemical firms spending billions to build factories in Louisiana were slammed by both Chinese and American tariffs.
Several Chinese companies have made significant investments in the state, such as Shandong Yuhuang Chemical, a Chinese methanol manufacturer, which invested $1.85 billion in 2014 and created approximately 400 direct jobs. In addition, Sea Mark Management Inc. & Yuan Hua Technical & Supply Corporation, another major Chinese presence in Louisiana, arrived to offer logistics, ship agency, and technical support. Louisiana is well positioned for further trade expansion after the dredging of a key 250-mile stretch at the mouth of the Mississippi river to greater depths to accommodate larger vessels with higher capacity is completed.
The first phase of the project to dredge the Mississippi river’s initial 250 miles to greater depths (enabling ships to carry 2.9 million bushels compared to the current 2.4 million–expected to bring an additional $461 billion in sales to the U.S. soybean industry) has been completed (second phase upcoming), securing the primacy of Louisiana’s ports. The Tulane U.S.-China Energy and Traw Law Forum was hosted in October 2022, dedicated in part to the growing relationship between China and Louisiana.
Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, representing Louisiana, were part of a bipartisan delegation of six U.S. Senators who visited China in 2023. After undergoing a host of amendments following protests by Chinese American residents at the State Capitol, House Bill 537 was passed in 2023, banning those connected to “foreign adversaries” from buying or leasing property in Louisiana.
Many of Louisiana’s universities have well established exchange programs with Chinese universities.
This data and content is updated periodically. The most recent update was January 2024.
Louisiana achieved a record-high goods export value of $4.5 billion to China in 2022, marking an 8% increase. Building on a series of 20-year LNG supply contracts with Chinese companies, Louisiana has emerged as the center of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export boom and a significant player in American energy exports to China. At $2.9 billion, oil and gas constitute over half of the state’s 2022 total exports to China. Several Chinese companies have made significant investments in the state, such as Shandong Yuhuang Chemical, a Chinese methanol manufacturer, which invested $1.85 billion in 2014 and created approximately 400 direct jobs. In addition, Sea Mark Management Inc. & Yuan Hua Technical & Supply Corporation, another major Chinese presence in Louisiana, arrived to offer logistics, ship agency, and technical support. Louisiana is well positioned for further trade expansion after the dredging of a key 250-mile stretch at the mouth of the Mississippi river to greater depths to accommodate larger vessels with higher capacity is completed. Prior to the pandemic, the state also attracted many Chinese visitors to its cultural centers such as New Orleans. Many of Louisiana’s universities have well established exchange programs with Chinese universities. Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, representing Louisiana, were part of a bipartisan delegation of six U.S. Senators who visited China in 2023. After undergoing a host of amendments following protests by Chinese American residents at the State Capitol, House Bill 537 was passed in 2023, banning those connected to “foreign adversaries” from buying or leasing property in Louisiana.
Louisiana achieved a record-high goods export value of $4.5 billion to China in 2022, marking an 8% increase. Building on a series of 20-year LNG supply contracts with Chinese companies, Louisiana has emerged as the center of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export boom and a significant player in American energy exports to China. At $2.9 billion, oil and gas constitute over half of the state’s 2022 total exports to China.
This growth stands in stark contrast to the low of $1.5 billion in 2019, amidst the trade war. The 25% tariff imposed by China on soybeans sideswept Louisiana as China has historically bought 60% of the state’s crop; this hit soybean producers hard, many reporting that government bailouts did not cover the losses, with smaller farms suffering the most. Ports also felt the pain, as falling shipments of steel and other commodities saw bulk cargo volumes dropping by 25% at the Port of New Orleans in 2019. The chemicals industry (of which Louisiana second largest exporting state) was also hurt by the trade war; to illustrate, two Chinese chemical firms spending billions to build factories in Louisiana were slammed by both Chinese and American tariffs.
Several Chinese companies have made significant investments in the state, such as Shandong Yuhuang Chemical, a Chinese methanol manufacturer, which invested $1.85 billion in 2014 and created approximately 400 direct jobs. In addition, Sea Mark Management Inc. & Yuan Hua Technical & Supply Corporation, another major Chinese presence in Louisiana, arrived to offer logistics, ship agency, and technical support. Louisiana is well positioned for further trade expansion after the dredging of a key 250-mile stretch at the mouth of the Mississippi river to greater depths to accommodate larger vessels with higher capacity is completed.
The first phase of the project to dredge the Mississippi river’s initial 250 miles to greater depths (enabling ships to carry 2.9 million bushels compared to the current 2.4 million–expected to bring an additional $461 billion in sales to the U.S. soybean industry) has been completed (second phase upcoming), securing the primacy of Louisiana’s ports. The Tulane U.S.-China Energy and Traw Law Forum was hosted in October 2022, dedicated in part to the growing relationship between China and Louisiana.
Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, representing Louisiana, were part of a bipartisan delegation of six U.S. Senators who visited China in 2023. After undergoing a host of amendments following protests by Chinese American residents at the State Capitol, House Bill 537 was passed in 2023, banning those connected to “foreign adversaries” from buying or leasing property in Louisiana.
Many of Louisiana’s universities have well established exchange programs with Chinese universities.
This data and content is updated periodically. The most recent update was January 2024.
Exports
China's Ranking
In State's Global Trading Partners 2022
#3
Decade Average
Goods Exporting to China
2008-2017 Pre-Trade War
$1.9 Billion
Highest Year on Record
Goods Exporting to China
2022
% State Global Exporting to china
5%
of Goods Exports 2022
6%
of Service Exports 2021
State Ranking in Heartland
#4
In Total Goods Exports Value 2022
#9
In Total Service Exports Value 2021
State Ranking in U.S.
#7
In Total Goods Exports Value 2022
#21
In Total Service Exports Value 2021
China's Ranking
In State's Global Trading Partners 2022
#3
Decade Average
Goods Exporting to China
2008-2017 Pre-Trade War
$1.9 Billion
Highest Year on Record
Goods Exporting to China
2022
% State global exporting to china
5%
of Goods Exports 2022
6%
of Service Exports 2021
State Ranking in Heartland
#4
In Total Goods Exports Value 2022
#9
In Total Service Exports Value 2021
State Ranking in U.S.
#7
In Total Goods Exports Value 2022
#21
In Total Service Exports Value 2021
Partnership
Sister Cities
- Baton Rouge/Guiyang
- Terrebonne/Weihai
Sister Partnership
Louisiana currently does not have a sister state relationship with a province of China
Export Details
2022
Goods Exports
$4.5 Billion
(USCBC Export Report 2023) +8%
1
Oil & Gas ($2.9B)
-3%
2
Oilseeds & Grains ($345M)
+32%
3
Petroleum & Coal Products ($343M)
+110%
2021
Service Exports
$455 Million
(USCBC Export Report 2023) -4%
1
Royalties From Industrial Processes ($115M)
+0%
2
Education ($70M)
-6%
3
Ocean Freight & Port Services ($51M)
+4%
blank
Jobs
17,810
Jobs supported by exports to China in 2021 (USCBC Export Report 2023)
400
Jobs supported by Chinese companies (NCUSR Rhodium Group 2018)
+22
Chinese companies operating in-state (NCUSR Rhodium Group 2018)
1
Shandong Yuhuang Chemical
2
Information not available
3
Information not available
Education
(IIE Open Doors
2023)
Top educational Institutions with chinese enrollment
- Louisiana State University and A&M College
- Tulane University
- University of Louisiana – Lafayette
1,205
Estimated number of Chinese International Students in-State
$70 MillioN
Estimated revenue added by Chinese International Students (USCBC Export Report 2023)
Chinese-American Population
16,432
(APIAVote 2022)
Goods Exporting
In 2022, Louisiana’s exporting of Petroleum & Coal Products to China more than doubled
$908 million
Chinese Foreign Direct Investment from 1990-2020
(Rhodium Group’s US-China Investment Hub)
Some data is not visible on mobile devices and some tablets. To see all available data please view on a high resolution full size tablet or a desktop/laptop computer.
For the states’ trade statistics: USCBC Export Report 2023.
For information relating to Chinese companies operating in-state: Rhodium Group and National Committee on U.S. China Relations’ “New Neighbors: 2018 Update”.
For information relating to Chinese international students: Open Doors’ 2023 Annual Data.
For the population of Chinese Americans in-state: APIAVote’s “2022 AAPI Voter Demographics by State”
For FDI: Rhodium Group’s US-China Investment Hub.
For sister city relationship information: Asia Matters for America by the East-West Center.
For foreign land ownership legislation: Mykel R. Taylor, Wendong Zhang, and Festus Attah. 2023. “Foreign Interests in U.S. Agricultural Lands: The Missing Conversations about Leasing.”