In 2021, Kansas and Henan province celebrated their 40th sister state/province anniversary, holding a virtual ceremony and exchanging commemorative pieces. Among many milestones celebrated at the event was Kansas’ first containerized soybean shipment directly to Henan in 2021. New projects like this likely contributed to the recent boom in Kansas’ trade with China, tripling its goods exports over the past three years and experiencing a 44% increase in 2021 alone. Kansas’ top export to China–oilseeds and grains–increased 42% from 2020 to 2021, and its shipment of meat products increased by 57%. Home to the “Air Capital of the World,” Wichita, Kansas counts aerospace products and parts as its third largest export to China, the largest aviation market of the world. However, this sector did not witness significant growth in 2021. Chinese Americans in Kansas are instrumental in promoting cultural and educational exchanges between their state and China. In 2022, various cultural associations resumed in-person festivals halted by the pandemic, including Dragon Boat races. Many educational exchange programs exist between Kansas and China. Among them, a dual degree program between Fort Hays State University and Sias University in Henan has been in place since 2000, contributing millions of dollars to the economy of Kansas.

Kansas has been in a recent boom in trade with China, having nearly tripled its goods exports revenue over the past three years, with a 44% increase in 2021 alone–hardly surprising given the desirability of its primary exports to China. 2021’s total of $2.6 billion marks a significant jump from the 2008-2017 average of $1.2 billion in goods exporting revenue. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, service exports from Kansas to China fell by -29%.

2021’s total exporting revenue is also up from 2018’s low of just $900 million during the trade war which saw Kansas take a 25% hit from 2017 to 2018. The state’s primary exports to China are oilseeds and grains, and meat products–two industries which have suffered under tariffs and now in turn have benefited from a recent surge in Chinese purchasing.

Indeed, Kansas’ top export to China of oilseeds and grains underwent a 42% increase from 2020 to 2021 to peak at $2 billion in revenue, and its shipment of meat products have increased by 57% to a total of $248 million. While aerospace products and parts are one of Kansas’ top international exports (and is the state’s third largest export to China), the sector has not witnessed significant growth in trade with China in 2021 as compared with other states.

Kansas is positioning itself to grow as a manufacturing state through its Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act (APEX) Bill, designed to attract new companies to the state that make $1 billion or greater by offering tax credits, reimbursement on payroll and employee training as well as exemptions for sales and property taxes. Kansas holds a strong connection to China through both its sister-state relationship with Henan province, as well as its many active cultural associations. In 2021, Kansas and Henan celebrated the 40th anniversary of their sisterhood, holding a virtual ceremony and exchanging commemorative pieces. In 2022, said cultural associations held many cultural festivals such as Dragon Boat races; one Kansas City based organization hopes to develop a Chinese Garden in their city similar to the Chinese Garden of Friendship brought to Wichita through their sister city Kaifeng. When Henan Province was affected by severe flooding in July 2021, Kansas City Chinese American Association organized sustainable funding for financial and education support for a school damaged during the flood.

China ranks as Kansas’ second leading place of origin for international students in 2022, dropping from first place in 2021, with an estimated 1,067 students in attendance. This marks an estimated -21% decrease in enrollment of Chinese students from 2021 to 2022, and a -44% decrease from 2020 to 2022. Many educational exchange programs exist between Kansas and China. Among them, a dual degree program between Fort Hays State University and Sias University in Henan has been in place since 2000, contributing millions of dollars to the economy of Kansas.

This data and content is updated periodically. The most recent update was January 2023.