An example method for a distributed NetFlow exporter with a single IP endpoint in a network environment is provided and includes configuring a network protocol stack of an exporter with switched virtual interface (SVI) state information of an SVI associated with a switch in a network, retrieving flow data from a NetFlow cache, and communicating the flow data to a collector according to the configured network protocol stack. Although the communication bypasses the SVI, the collector perceives the flow records as being communicated by the SVI. The SVI state information includes a public Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the SVI, where the exporter executes on an adaptor of a server in the network. The method also includes configuring a destination IP address and a destination MAC address on the exporter according to a NetFlow policy.