Business | California merchandise exports are up
The International Trade Administration (ITA) today announced that new data shows California merchandise exports grew from $159.1 billion in 2011 to $161.7 billion last year. This was a record high export level for the state. California’s strong performance in 2012 helped the United States reach an all-time record for exports of U.S. goods and services, reaching $2.2 trillion in 2012 and supporting nearly 10 million American jobs.
California’s 2012 merchandise export sales outpaced the 2011 figures in many top destinations, including: Australia (+11 percent); the United Kingdom (+5 percent); Belgium (+3 percent); Brazil (+3 percent); and Hong Kong (+2 percent). Key merchandise export categories include: computer and electronic products; transportation equipment; machinery manufactures; miscellaneous manufactures; and chemicals.
“These export numbers show that for more and more California companies, selling internationally is key to growing their businesses and strengthening their bottom line,”
Here is a link to our interview with Francisco Sánchez, U.S. Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade.
Nationwide, many small and mid-sized business also continue to “graduate” from Export University, a day-long program – led by ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service and the District Export Council – that provides export training, export and marketing strategy development, and information on locating international buyers, shipping and logistics, documentation issues, payment risks, and trade financing.
“The growth in California’s exports shows that even in these challenging economic times, many local companies are working to enhance their competitiveness and bottom line by making new sales abroad,”
With more than 100 offices across the United States and in American Embassies and Consulates in more than 70 countries, ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service connects U.S. companies with international buyers. In 2012, ITA helped U.S. businesses facilitate more than 14,000 export successes. Companies interested in exporting should contact their local office in Ontario at (909) 909-390-8283 or visit www.export.gov/inlandempire. Businesses can also order the Basic Guide to Exporting available at www.export.gov/basicguide.
For more information about the impact of exports on individual states, including fact sheets for all 50 states, please visit the Office of Trade and Industry Information’s web page at http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/statereports/
