Why China Matters to Minnesota
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.
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.

Exports
China's Ranking
In State's Global Trading Partners 2021
#2
Decade Average
Goods Exporting to China
2008-2017 Pre-Trade War
$2.8 Billion
Highest Year on Record
Goods Exporting to China
2021
% State Global Exporting to china
15%
of Goods Exports 2021
5%
of Service Exports 2020
State Ranking in Heartland
#4
In Total Goods Exports Value 2021
#8
In Total Service Exports Value 2020
State Ranking in U.S.
#11
In Total Goods Exports Value 2021
#21
In Total Service Exports Value 2020
China's Ranking
In State's Global Trading Partners 2021
#2
Decade Average
Goods Exporting to China
2008-2017 Pre-Trade War
$2.8 Billion
Highest Year on Record
Goods Exporting to China
2021
% State global exporting to china
15%
of Goods Exports 2021
5%
of Service Exports 2020
State Ranking in Heartland
#4
In Total Goods Exports Value 2021
#8
In Total Service Exports Value 2020
State Ranking in U.S.
#11
In Total Goods Exports Value 2021
#21
In Total Service Exports Value 2020
Partnership
Sister Cities
- Minneapolis/Harbin
- Red Wing/Quzhou
- Rochester/Xianyang
- Saint Paul/Changsha
Sister Partnership
Minnesota

Shaanxi

Export Details
2021

Goods Exports
$4.1 Billion
(USCBC Export Report 2022) +19%
1
Oilseeds & Grains ($1.7B)
+21%
2
Semiconductors & Components ($467M)
3
Misc. General Purpose Machinery ($324M)
+45%
2020

Service Exports
$541 Million
(USCBC Export Report 2022) -29%
1
Education ($140M)
-17%
2
Royalties from Industrial Processes ($109M)
+22%
3
Misc. Financial Services ($53M)
blank

Jobs
28,400
Jobs supported by exports to China in 2020 (USCBC Export Report 2022)
2,800
Jobs supported by Chinese companies (NCUSR Rhodium Group 2018)
+72
Chinese companies operating in-state (NCUSR Rhodium Group 2018)
1
China Aviation Industry General Aircraft 850 jobs
2
WH Group 500 jobs
3
Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group 300 jobs

Education
(IIE Open Doors 2022)
Top educational Institutions with chinese enrollment
- University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- Minnesota State University – Mankato
- St. Cloud State University – St. Cloud
3,281
Estimated number of Chinese International Students in-State
$140 Million
Estimated revenue added by Chinese International Students (USCBC Export Report 2022)

Chinese-American Population
41,829
(APIAVote 2020)

Goods Exporting
Minnesota led the Heartland region in exporting of miscellaneous general purpose machinery to China in 2021

$2.8 Billion
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 2022.
For information relating to Chinese-owned operations in-state: Rhodium Group and NCUSR’s 2018 Report.
For information relating to Chinese international students: Open Door’s 2022 Annual Data.
For the population of Chinese Americans in-state: APIAVote’s 2020 AAPI Numbers and Facts Report or https://population.com/ if the report did not have the data.
For FDI: Rhodium Group’s US-China Investment Hub.
For sister city relationship information: Asia Matters for America.