State exports set record in 2011

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Minnesota exports of agricultural, mining and manufactured products reached a record $20.3 billion last year, beating the previous record of $19.2 billion in 2008, according to figures released this week by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Year-over-year, state exports climbed $1.4 billion from 2010, an increase of 7.3 percent. Manufactured products dominated exports by Minnesota companies last year, accounting for about 90 percent ($18.4 billion) of total sales.

"Exports have a significant impact on the state economy and are an important driver of job growth," said Katie Clark, executive director of the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO). "Manufacturing exports alone are responsible for nearly 115,000 jobs in Minnesota."

The state's three major regional markets in 2011 were North America ($7 billion, up 10 percent), Asia ($6.9 billion, up 11 percent) and the European Union ($4 billion, down 2 percent).

Canada was the state's largest national market, with sales climbing 7 percent from the previous year to $5.8 billion.

Other top national export markets were China ($2.3 billion, up 18 percent), Japan ($1.3 billion, up 15 percent), Mexico ($1.2 billion, up 24 percent), Germany ($734 million, down 6 percent), South Korea ($702 million, up 12 percent), Belgium ($623 million, up 5 percent), United Kingdom ($557 million, down 5 percent), Singapore ($547 million, up 10 percent) and the Philippines ($524 million, up 13 percent).

Taiwan, Australia, Netherlands, Ireland, France, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Italy and India rounded out the state's top 20 markets.

The top export category was machinery ($4 billion, up 1 percent), followed by optics and medical instruments ($2.8 billion, down 2.3 percent), electrical machinery ($2.7 billion, up 13.1 percent), vehicles ($1.7 billion, up 10 percent), plastic ($1.1 billion, up 3.4 percent), aircraft and spacecraft ($502 million, up 9.6 percent), food waste and animal feed ($483 million, up 6.6 percent), cereals ($433, up 40.1 percent), mineral fuel, oil ($427 million, up 103.6 percent) and ores, slag and ash ($397 million, down 30.3 percent).

The U.S. Department of Commerce said 8,280 Minnesota businesses exported goods and services in 2010, increasing by more than 500 companies since 2009.

The full report is available at www.tinyurl.com/MinnesotaExports.

MTO, an office of DEED, is focused on increasing state export sales in foreign markets. MTO promotes international trade by providing export information, export education and training, and one-on-one counseling to Minnesota companies that wish to sell manufactured goods and services in the international marketplace.

DEED is the state's principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development.

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