Sixteen States Achieve Record Export Levels In 2013

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the year end state export data showing 16 states set new records for export sales in 2013 — with 10 additional states experiencing merchandise export growth. Total merchandise exports from the 50 U.S. states helped contribute to the record-setting value of goods and services exports, which reached $2.3 trillion in 2013.

“These export numbers show that for more and more American companies, selling internationally is critical to growing their businesses and strengthening our economy,” said Secretary Pritzker. “We know for a fact, that for every $1 billion in exports nearly 5,000 jobs are supported across our nation, and with more than 95 percent of the world’s potential consumers residing outside our borders, exports will continue to be an important driver of the local and national economy. This important export data confirms that President Obama’s call for increasing our exports and ensuring that trade and investment become part of our economy’s DNA is the right course for America.”

The 16 states that set new records for exports in 2013 include: Texas ($279.7 billion); California ($168.1 billion); Washington ($81.9 billion); Louisiana ($63.1 billion); Michigan ($58.5 billion); Ohio ($50.5 billion); Georgia ($37.6 billion); Tennessee ($32.4 billion); North Carolina ($29.3 billion); South Carolina ($26.1 billion); Kentucky ($25.3 billion); Connecticut ($16.5 billion); Mississippi ($12.4 billion); Maryland ($11.8 billion); Colorado ($8.7 billion); and Oklahoma ($6.9 billion).

In addition, the following states enjoyed growth in total merchandise exports in 2013: Alaska; Arizona; Delaware; Kansas; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New York; Oregon; Pennsylvania; and South Dakota.

U.S. merchandise exports to countries that the United States has trade agreements with continued to be strong. This included record exports to: Canada (+2.7 percent); Mexico (+4.7 percent); Colombia (+13.8 percent); Panama (+9.6 percent); Peru (+7.6 percent); and Jordan (+18.2 percent).

More information about individual state contribution to national exports is available through the International Trade Administration’s Office of Trade and Economic Analysis web page, www.trade.gov/mas/ian/statereports, which includes individual fact sheets for all 50 states.

An interactive map with national and state merchandise trade data is available here: http://tse.export.gov/TSE/.