On the heels of a December 2022 memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United Kingdom (U.K.) and a rise in bilateral collaboration since, S.C. Commerce leadership announced the agency’s expansion into the U.K. and Republic of Ireland markets Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.

Annual trade and export figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce put South Carolina’s 2023 export sales at $37.3 billion, defying a national trend where U.S. exports dropped 2.2% over the same timeframe. The automotive industry remained the state’s leading export — South Carolina was once again the nation’s top exporter of tires, and a national leader in the export of completed passenger vehicles. In total, South Carolina exports reached 211 countries in 2023.