New Data Shows Metro Exports Increased 15.4% from Previous Year

Today, the International Trade Administration released new data showing that international merchandise trade exports from 377 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) totaled $1.13 trillion in 2010. More than one-third of U.S. metro areas each exported more than $1 billion in merchandise to the world; of these, eight had exports of merchandise worth more than $25 billion each. Among the top 25 metropolitan area exporters, merchandise exports increased by 21 percent between 2009 and 2010.

Since the launch of the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI) in 2010, which aims to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014, merchandise exports from MSAs have increased 15.4 percent over 2009 levels.

“Cities across America are fueling the national growth of U.S. exports,” said Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary for International Trade. “Metropolitan areas boast high concentrations of industry and economic activity and therefore are primed to expand exports and increase jobs. Individual areas are taking stock of these benefits, and are helping us reach the President’s goal to double U.S. exports city by city, state by state.”

Much of the growth in exports in the largest metropolitan areas, such as New York, Houston, and Los Angeles was concentrated particularly in transportation equipment, chemical manufacturing and other general manufacturing. There was also a significant growth in exports of computer and electronic products. Detroit showed the highest growth in exports between 2009 and 2010 with exports growing by more than 55 percent over this period. Detroit’s exports of transportation equipment grew 62 percent in 2010 to reach $28.8 billion.

As a percentage of state exports, 20 MSAs accounted for 40 percent of their state’s total export activity. Burlington, Vermont and Honolulu, Hawaii both represented more than 80 percent of their state exports, while Seattle, Washington, Salt Lake City, Boise and Detroit accounted for more than 70 percent of their state merchandise exports.
For more information on the impact of MSAs on U.S. exports, including fact sheets for the top 50 exporting MSAs in 2010, visit http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/metroreport/index.asp