---
title: "SC Exports Hit Seven-Year High at $38.5B — Spartanburg Manufacturers Drive Record"
url: https://www.herespartanburg.com/sc-exports-38-billion-seven-year-high-spartanburg/
date: 2026-05-18T16:25:55-04:00
modified: 2026-05-18T16:25:56-04:00
author: "A. Preston Acker"
categories: ["Business"]
site: "HERESpartanburg"
attribution: "HERESpartanburg"
---

# SC Exports Hit Seven-Year High at $38.5B — Spartanburg Manufacturers Drive Record

*Source: [HERESpartanburg](https://www.herespartanburg.com/sc-exports-38-billion-seven-year-high-spartanburg/) — May 18, 2026 by A. Preston Acker*

South Carolina’s total export sales reached $38.5 billion in 2025, the highest value recorded in seven years, according to figures announced by Governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and South Carolina Ports. The 1.5% year-over-year growth matched the overall pace of U.S. export expansion and placed South Carolina at or near the top of national rankings in its core export categories — categories in which [Spartanburg County](/) employers are primary contributors.

Spartanburg’s role in those export figures is substantial and direct. [BMW Manufacturing](/business/?employer=bmw), headquartered in Greer and operating its largest single production facility in the world just outside Spartanburg, is the largest driver of South Carolina’s passenger vehicle export totals. The state held 18% of the U.S. market share in completed passenger vehicle exports in 2025, generating $9.8 billion — and BMW’s Spartanburg plant is the principal reason South Carolina has led the nation in that category. [Michelin North America](/business/?employer=michelin), with its North American headquarters in Greenville and major manufacturing in Spartanburg County, is the primary reason South Carolina led the nation in tire exports for the 11th consecutive year. Tire exports reached $2 billion and represented 43% of total U.S. tire export market share, a 7% increase year over year.

Motor vehicles and parts, aircraft and parts, and machinery and parts were South Carolina’s three most exported commodity categories in 2025. Aircraft and parts saw the sharpest growth of any category, with market share rising 31% from 2024, driven in part by aircraft exports to Qatar and Taiwan that propelled both countries into South Carolina’s top 10 export partners. Germany remained the state’s single largest export partner, representing $5.1 billion in export sales — a 3.5% year-over-year increase — followed by Mexico and Canada. South Carolina goods reached 198 countries and territories in 2025.

Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III credited the state’s advanced manufacturing sector as the foundation of the export performance, calling international trade a cornerstone of the state’s long-term growth. SC Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace noted that more than 70% of cargo exported through South Carolina Ports’ facilities originates from companies within the state — higher than any other major container port on the East Coast. That statistic reflects the concentration of export-oriented manufacturers in the Upstate and along the [I-85](/traffic-spartanburg-sc/) corridor, where Spartanburg County sits at the center.

South Carolina was also the second-leading national exporter of ball and roller bearings, representing 10.5% of U.S. market share and generating $287 million. Ball and roller bearings are widely used in automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, and energy sectors — all industries with significant Spartanburg County footprints through suppliers to BMW, Michelin, and Milliken.

For Spartanburg businesses interested in expanding international sales, the South Carolina Department of Commerce offers export incentives and direct support through its international trade team. Companies can contact S.C. Commerce at sccommerce.com to explore programs designed to lower the cost and complexity of entering foreign markets. The record export year provides a favorable backdrop for Spartanburg manufacturers looking to scale their international presence on the strength of a market that already recognizes the quality of South Carolina-made products.