State trade fact sheets - Ohio
Ohio
Highlights
- Canada is Ohio’s #1 customer
- 697,000 Canadian travelers spent $104 million in Ohio in 2017
- 262 Canadian-owned businesses employ 24,180 workers in Ohio
- Ohio sells more goods to Canada than to its next eight largest foreign markets combined
- Canada sells more to Ohio than it sells to the UK

Ambulance Manufacturers Merge
Braun Industries in Van Wert, Ohio, which has 200 employees at its 105,000 square feet production facility, recently joined Beloeil, Quebec's Demers Ambulances, to create a combined company with over 100 years of experience. In late 2018 the company brought Saskatchewan's specialty vehicle maker Crestline into the family fold. The match up combines these former competitors and capitalizes on the strengths of each to create the second largest ambulance manufacturer in North America. Braun remains one of Van Wert's largest employers.
Moving at the Speed of Change
Calgary start-up Robots & Pencils began with the philosophy of “Follow the Talent.” This successful digital innovation firm moved into downtown Cleveland to do exactly that. Over 40 members of the firm's global team, according to the company's terminology, are robots (technologists), pencils (artists and user experience) or ampersands (business analysts, consulting, sales and administration) and call Cleveland home. The group designs software applications such as mobile portals, AI-powered conversations, gamified learning applications, and more to enable their clients to future-proof their businesses and keep pace with technological change.
Canadian Plastics Company Expands in Ohio
There were many reasons why Canada's fast-growing MSW Plastics Inc. chose Ohio for its U.S. expansion, including proximity, infrastructure, and an existing facility. This plastic extrusion company's 61,000 square foot plant is located just one mile from I-75 and near the interstate crossroads of I-75 and I-70. The Dayton-area location means shorter delivery times for U.S. customers. It supports the company's ability to deliver products manufactured in the United States. The investment involved the purchase and renovation of a vacant facility and is expected to create up to 35 jobs once operations reach full production levels.
Ohio exports $20.5 billion in goods to Canada annually
Ohio exports to Canada by industry
- Agriculture: 8%
- Chemicals: 10%
- Equipment & machinery: 29%
- Minerals & metals: 11%
- Plastics & rubbers: 7%
- Transportation: 26%
- Other: 9%
Ohio imports $12.0 billion in goods from Canada annually
Ohio imports from Canada by industry
- Agriculture: 9%
- Chemicals: 6%
- Energy: 6%
- Equipment & machinery: 15%
- Forest products: 4%
- Minerals & metals: 24%
- Plastics & rubbers: 9%
- Transportation: 16%
- Other: 11%
Top Ohio goods exports to Canada
- Motor vehicle parts: $1.9 billion
- Automobiles: $1.8 billion
- Computers: $1.3 billion
- Engines & turbines: $1.2 billion
- Plastics & plastic articles: $1.0 billion
- Soaps, candles & waxes: $686 million
- Aircraft & parts: $617 million
- Tobacco products: $557 million
- Iron & steel alloys & semi-finished products: $527 million
- Iron & steel tubes, pipes & sheets: $515 million
Top Ohio goods imports from Canada
- Motor vehicle parts: $1.0 billion
- Plastics & plastic articles: $860 million
- Iron & steel alloys & semi-finished products: $806 million
- Aluminum & aluminum articles: $778 million
- Aircraft & parts: $743 million
- Crude petroleum: $632 million
- Engines & turbines: $415 million
- Copper & copper articles: $286 million
- Furniture & bedding: $252 million
- Iron & steel tubes, pipes & sheets: $237 million
Ohio exports $1.3 billion in services to Canada annually
Top Ohio services exports to Canada
- Travel services: $303 million
- Business & professional services: $210 million
- Financial services: $205 million
- Transportation services: $186 million
- Royalties: $130 million
Connect to our team
For more information on Ohio’s trade with Canada, please contact our trade team in Detroit.
March 2020
- Unless otherwise mentioned, all figures are based on 2019 data in U.S. dollars.
- U.S. Census Bureau: goods trade, Canada’s export ranking (2/2020 release).
- The Trade Partnership: 2018 services exports (estimated, 2/2020 release).
- Statistics Canada: 2017 tourism, based on combined same-day and overnight travel (8/2019 release, US$1.00=C$1.2986).
- Dun + Bradstreet: Canadian-owned businesses (12/2019 release).
- Figures may not add up due to rounding.