Minnesota enjoyed its best year on record in terms of goods exports to China in 2021, peaking at $4.1 billion–well above the 2008-2017 average of $2.7 billion, representing the 4th highest total in the Heartland Region. China is the state’s top agricultural export market, as the commodities the state produces (soybeans, hogs, corn, feed, dairy) are in high demand in China. As a national hub for medical device and health care innovation, Minnesota’s exports of medical equipment and supplies to China totaled $225 million in 2021. Leading multinational corporations headquartered in Minnesota such as 3M, General Mills, and Cargill have significant business interests in China. Cargill, in partnership with Shanxi Changrong Agricultural Technology Co. Ltd. is constructing a new sow innovation center in Shanxi province. Their facilities in Elk River and Shanxi province will collaborate to build greater understanding of the impacts of nutrition on animal health. The Minnesota-China relationship also boasts strong educational partnerships. University of Minnesota is home to one of the largest groups of Chinese students in the U.S. and has educated some of China’s leading agriculture experts. Many educational institutions in Minnesota, ranging from boarding schools to private colleges, enjoy a great reputation in China and attract significant numbers of Chinese students to the state.

Minnesota enjoyed its best year on record in terms of goods exports to China in 2021, growing by 19% and peaking at $4.1 billion–well above the 2008-2017 decade’s average of $2.7 billion–with the 4th highest total in the Heartland region. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, service exports from Minnesota to China fell by -29%.

This leap is even more drastic compared to the status of its exports in 2018 during the trade war, when the revenue totaled a relatively modest $2.5 billion. While Minnesota’s robust and diversified exports to China meant billions in exporting, individual industries nevertheless suffered, as oilseeds and grains exporting to China dropped from $1.0 billion in 2017 to $275 million in 2018. The impact was felt elsewhere as well, most especially in Minnesotan’s pockets as businesses paid an extra $704 million in import taxes on products subject to tariffs in 2019.

As both a major agricultural and manufacturing state, Minnesota has been enjoying increased Chinese demand for its goods, with growth in all of Minnesota’s top exports to China. On the agricultural front, Minnesota is number four out of US states for ag exports to China, as the commodities the state produces (soybeans, hogs, corn, feed, dairy) are the most in-demand. Oilseeds and grains (accounting for 41% of the state’s exports to China) generated $1.7 billion in revenue in 2021, up 21%. Navigational and measuring devices exporting is up 12%, and miscellaneous general-purpose machinery has jumped by 45%. Minnesota is also a national hub for health care innovation including electromedical device manufacturing, with medical equipment and supplies being shipped to China totaling at $225 million in 2021.

Chinese culture was celebrated as part of the Urban Expedition:2022 Series: a joint effort by Landmark Center and Global Minnesota’s in partnership with CAAM Chinese Dance Theater.

China ranks as Minnesota’s leading place of origin for international students in 2022, with an estimated 3,281 students in attendance. This marks an estimated -17% decrease in enrollment of Chinese students from 2021 to 2022, and a -24% decrease from 2020 to 2022. The Minnesota-China relationship also boasts strong educational partnerships. University of Minnesota is home to one of the largest groups of Chinese students in the U.S. and has educated some of China’s leading agriculture experts. Many educational institutions in Minnesota, ranging from boarding schools to private colleges, enjoy a great reputation in China and attract significant numbers of Chinese students to the state.

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