Thread: California exports spiked in March

California exports spiked in March

By Mark Glover
mglover@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, May. 12, 2010 - 11:13 am
Last Modified: Wednesday, May. 12, 2010 - 11:18 am

California's merchandise export trade in March spiked 25.7 percent over the same month last year, according to figures released today.

The state shipped $12.37 billion in goods abroad in March, up from $9.84 billion in March 2009, according to an analysis of U.S. Commerce Department figures by Beacon Economics, an economic consulting firm with offices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

March marked the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year increases in California's export trade.

Analysts noted that while the March gains were substantial, 2009 was a dismal year for trade, and California exports are still below pre-recession levels. They also expressed concern that financial turmoil in Europe could jeopardize trade momentum built up so far this year.

On the import side, merchandise coming into California totaled $24.92 billion in March, an increase of 25.6 percent over $19.84 billion in the year-ago period.

Some imports go to other states, so exports are considered a more accurate measure of California's trade strength.

Nationally, the U.S. trade deficit rose to a 15-month high of $40.4 billion as March crude oil imports rose to their highest level since the fall of 2008. U.S. exports of goods and services rose 3.2 percent from February to March, to $147.87 billion, the highest level since October 2008. March imports rose 3.1 percent over February to $188.3 billion.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/12/274582 ... z0nk10WB67

California Depends on World Markets

California's export shipments of merchandise in 2009 totaled $120 billion, ranking California second only to Texas ($163 billion) among the states in terms of total exports in 2009.

California's largest export market was Mexico, with the state posting exports of $17.5 billion to Mexico in 2009. Mexico alone accounted for 15 percent of California's goods exports in 2009. Other top markets include Canada ($14.3 billion), Japan ($10.9 billion), China ($9.7 billion) and South Korea ($5.9 billion).

The state's leading export category in 2009 was computers and electronic products, which alone accounted for 29 percent, or $35.2 billion, of California's total merchandise exports. Other top exports were transportation equipment (2009 exports of $12.8 billion), machinery manufactures ($10.7 billion), and chemical manufactures ($10.2 billion).

http://www.trade.gov/td/industry/otea/s ... ornia.html

Agriculture (including fruit, vegetables, dairy, and wine production) is a major California industry.
In fact, California is the world's fifth largest supplier of food and agriculture commodities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of ... nd_tourism

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