eXport

Export is the sale of goods or services produced domestically to buyers in foreign markets. It is a central element of international trade and is usually contrasted with import, the purchase of goods or services produced elsewhere. Exports are typically measured by value, often in the local currency or U.S. dollars, and can be divided into merchandise exports (physical goods) and services exports (for example tourism, software, or financial services).

Exports contribute to a country’s gross domestic product through net exports and can influence the trade balance and exchange rate. They reflect a country’s relative productivity and competitiveness, but are also affected by price changes, production costs, currency movements, and policy settings. Key determinants include relative prices, exchange rates, foreign demand, infrastructure, and regulatory environments. Global value chains have increased the intra-firm and inter-firm transfer of intermediate goods, complicating the measurement and attribution of export activity.

Policy and institutions: governments may pursue export promotion through targeted support, trade agreements, export credits, and streamlined logistics, or use zones designed to attract production for export. Export controls regulate sensitive goods and technologies for security or policy reasons. The effects of exporting on an economy include potential growth in production, employment, and technology transfer, balanced against risks such as overreliance on external demand and exposure to terms-of-trade or currency fluctuations.

Measurement and data: exports are reported in national accounts as merchandise or services exports, with data often published by statistical agencies, the IMF, and the World Bank. In computing, export can also refer to transferring data or assets from a software program to a file or another system.