Cincinnati’s Global Trade Advantage

It’s essential for companies to find locations that position operations to compete in globalized trade. And Cincinnati is the right place for businesses who understand our geographical advantages, existing infrastructure, and business-friendly environment for successful operations. You don’t have to take our word for it; the International Trade Administration recognizes Cincinnati as the No. 10 largest exporter among U.S. metro areas.

If your business is considering expanding or relocating, Cincinnati deserves a close look. The Queen City offers strong export infrastructure and an economic climate built for growth, a combination that savvy business leaders are already putting to work. Here’s why our region stands out.

Cincinnati’s Export Powerhouse

Put simply, Cincinnati is proven ground for international success. Recently reported data from the International Trade Administration revealed that international exports increased from $31.22 billion in 2023 to $38.85 billion in 2024, a 24.4% increase in just one year. While our region ranks first per capita, removing population differences puts us just behind Atlanta and second in export strength overall among peer metros.

And zooming out from this look at peer metros, Cincinnati’s No. 10 ranking nationwide for regional exports is a strong reason to take notice. Our region exports roughly $174.5B annually, 22% of which are international exports. 3,052 companies exported goods from the Cincinnati area in 2022, 81% of which were small- and medium-sized businesses.

Cincinnati punches way above its weight, with top export categories in transportation materials, chemicals, machinery, fabricated metal products, and computer and electronic products. Our region is poised for even greater export growth in the coming years, due to strategic innovation and investment from our powerhouse Fortune 500 HQs and innovative anchor companies putting Cincinnati at the top of site selector lists.

What, exactly, is this city’s secret sauce? Three words: location, location, location. The MSA is ideally located within 600 miles of major U.S. markets, and this optimal geographic positioning, not to mention its storied logistics history as a bustling river town, gives the region distinct operational advantages when it comes to moving goods from here to elsewhere, whether that’s up the road or across the globe.

Cincinnati’s robust infrastructure is key to the region’s export activity, as the MSA is serviced by three major interstate highways, two class-A railways, and two active Foreign Trade Zones. And Cincinnati’s bridge system, spanning not only the Ohio River but also the Licking, Miami, and Little Miami rivers, is undergoing a significant transformation, with the Brent Spence companion bridge project poised to greatly improve connectivity across the region’s key transit corridors. While Cincinnati’s business community certainly benefits from being within an eight-hour drive of 60% of the U.S. and Canadian population, air transport via Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is a major asset to the region’s exporting strength, too.

These numerous advantages, optimal geographic location, superior logistics infrastructure, and access to international markets via a world-class airport, allow the Cincinnati region’s export capabilities to flourish while regionally based companies prosper.

Foreign Trade Zone Benefits

The Cincinnati region is home to two active foreign trade zones (FTZs): Nos. 46 (Cincinnati) and 47 (Northern Kentucky), both established in 1978. They essentially function as duty-free zones for businesses, allowing for import, storage, manipulation, assembly, or manufacturing of goods with reduced or deferred customs duties. These designated areas within the United States operate under special customs procedures, existing to promote international trade. Having two zones is unique to our region and makes it easier for businesses in Ohio and Kentucky to grow by allowing them to:

• Eliminate, defer, or reduce customs duties to lower operational costs
• Boost global competitiveness for businesses of all sizes
• Fuel job creation and support economic development
• Enhance supply chain efficiency and collaboration
• Attract investment by fostering a conducive business environment

The region’s two FTZs are governed by boards of directors consisting of members who represent international trade and economic business leadership across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Ohio FTZ 46 encompasses Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren and Adams and attracts companies engaged in the distribution of products like civil aircraft engine modules and containers, production of automotive engines, aircraft and spacecraft manufacturing and assembly operations. Businesses such as Festo, Hit Promotional Products, MANE, Mitsubishi, Patheon, and Frasco operate within this zone, which recorded $500M–$750M in merchandise received and $75M–$100M in exports in 2024.

Kentucky FTZ 47 encompasses Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Boyd, Clark, and Mason counties and thrives as a center for warehousing and distribution, including civil aircraft and marine engine modules and a variety of textile products. Businesses such as GE Aerospace, Levi Strauss & Co., Marathon Petroleum Corp., Mitsubishi, Trancy Logistics America, and Valeo operate within this zone, which recorded $10M–$25M in merchandise received and $100M–$250M in exports in 2024.

These zones are strategic tools to enhance business competitiveness on the global stage, drive down costs, fuel job creation, and catalyze supply chain excellence. And a variety of FTZ inventory services are available to help manage, track, and report inventory. If your company frequently imports and re-exports goods, engages in manufacturing or value-added processing within the U.S., or has complex supply chains, it could very well be a prime candidate.

Cincinnati’s Business-Friendly Environment

Financial Times has ranked the Cincinnati region No. 22 US best city for international business in its latest FT-Nikkei rankings, noting the MSA’s business environment and investment trends among a list of scored categories. The city earned its place in the rankings through a combination of solid infrastructure, business-friendly policies, strong global relationships, and a workforce ready to compete on the international stage.

Our region’s tax structure and incentives are a big part of the reason organizations like doing business here. Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana all offer numerous means to access capital, including a wide variety of grants and loans. And a range of tax credit opportunities exist across all three states, making our region an attractive area for businesses looking to establish, relocate, or expand.

And when it comes to staffing a skilled and capable workforce, Cincinnati has the talent businesses need to succeed. Across several specialized industries, our region boasts a talented workforce in critical roles, cultivated by Cincinnati’s world-class higher education institutions. Joining the MSA’s business community means becoming part of a thriving ecosystem of skilled employees, suppliers, and industry peers.

One of Cincinnati’s best-kept secrets is that it offers a high quality of life at a surprisingly affordable cost of living. With a median household income of $79K, the region’s residents know this and revel in the area’s lush parks, vibrant cultural offerings, thrilling sporting events, and more. And area businesses are able to offer skilled workers competitive wages while spending less on payroll than they would in many other metros due to the fact that one can live well here for less. It’s a win/win!

Cincinnati’s Import/Export Ecosystem Provides a Unified Advantage

Cincinnati is a powerhouse for international import/export business. CVG plays a major role in the region’s undeniable capabilities, ranking as the 7th largest cargo airport in North America and the 20th largest globally, handling 2.1 million tons of cargo annually. The world-leading e-commerce hub is home to Amazon’s primary U.S. Air Hub and DHL’s Global Super Hub for the Americas, and the airport hosts a significant presence by FedEx.

The Port of Greater Cincinnati, too, supports our region’s import/export system in ways that even many locals may not be aware of. Located along the waterways of the Ohio River and Licking River, the ports of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky measure over 225 miles. They support 58 active terminals, which are owned by 42 different private companies with 104 docks. The ports span 15 counties and transport 36 million tons of cargo annually. It’s no wonder the port was ranked the No. 1 largest inland port in the U.S. by volume.

Cincinnati’s proven strengths in export capability coupled with its advantageous business climate makes our region the right place to do international business. Ready to learn more about our region’s proven international trade capabilities and what it could mean for your business?

For Foreign Trade Zone inquiries, get in touch with a local Zone Grantee or Grantee administrator. Reach out to Angela Cook at CVG for administrative questions or Matthew Zimmerman with REDI Cincinnati for business development queries. To explore site selection assistance, data, or other opportunities, connect with REDI today.