California exports rise 21.8% in April

California exports rise 21.8% in April

It's the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year increases for the state, Beacon Economics says.

By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times
June 10, 2010 | 3:43 p.m.

California exports rebounded again in April, jumping 21.8% from the same month last year and creating more confidence among economists that export trade in the state is picking up. April marked the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year increases, according to a Beacon Economics analysis of data released this morning by the Commerce Department.

"For the time being, things look positive," said Jock O'Connell, international trade advisor to Beacon Economics.

The state shipped $11.26 billion worth of electronics, agricultural products and other goods in April, up from $9.24 billion in April 2009. The increases were led by strong demand for agricultural goods and non-manufactured products overseas — exports of those goods jumped 29.6%. Exports of manufactured products were up 18.8% from April 2009.

The ports benefited from this traffic. The number of loaded shipping containers leaving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in April was up 10% from the same month last year, although exports through the port of Oakland were essentially flat. Export tonnage at the state's two primary international airports also grew in April, by 16.1% at LAX and by 37% at SFO.

But O'Connell is concerned that April's growth may not last. The sovereign debt crisis in Europe has weakened the euro, so U.S. exports are now competing against less expensive European products. And austerity measures adopted by governments in Europe are going to lead to less spending overall, he said.

"The financial fallout is causing governments and central banks to adopt more austerity measures, which is likely to retard economic growth around the world," he said.

Imports are recovering in California. The state imported $25.9 billion worth of goods in April, up from $19.9 billion a year earlier. California made up about 11% of the share of U.S. exports in April, Beacon said, down from 11.7% in December.

Mexico was the top destination for California exports, with $1.6 billion worth in April, according to a Beacon analysis of trade data from the first quarter of the year. Canada, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan are the next top export partners.

California's electric machinery exports seem to be recovering, with the state exporting $2.1 billion worth in April, up from $1.8 billion in April 2009. Industrial machinery and computer exports are also rebounding from a plunge — the state exported $1.9 billion worth in April, up from $1.3 billion in April of 2009.

Electric machinery and industrial machinery/computers are the top two state exports by dollar value.

alana.semuels@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-c ... 8751.story

The Biggest and Best Boycotts of California are Hollywood/Entertainment and California Wine...
No lame propaganda movies and shows and no crappy california wines.

California-heavy wine exports surge to $800M

San Francisco Business Times

U.S. wine exports, 95 percent of them from California, surged to nearly $800 million last year, according to preliminary U.S. Department of Commerce data.

The San Francisco-based Wine Institute announced Friday that overall U.S. wine exports rose to $794 million in terms of 2004 revenue to wineries, a 28 percent jump over the comparable 2003 figure of $621 million.

The value of the increased export volume -- $173 million -- was by far the largest yearly increase ever, according to Wine Institute officials.

By volume, exports increased 29 percent to 119 million gallons (or 450 million liters).

"More than 60 percent of California wine exports are to the EU (European Union), despite the fact that our vintners face significant trade barriers, including high tariffs and a heavily subsidized EU wine industry," Robert Koch, the Wine Institute's president and CEO, said in a statement. "We are hopeful that the ongoing bilateral wine trade negotiations with the EU and the next round of World Trade Organization negotiations will lower those barriers."

Officials said the weaker U.S. dollar has made California wines more competitive in the world export market, but wine industry leaders said that's not the only factor.

"Wineries are now reaping the benefits of their hard work and marketing efforts of the last few years and establishing brands in major markets," said Joseph Rollo, the Wine Institute's international director.

The top market for California wine is the United Kingdom, where wines from the Golden State made a 20 percent leap in volume last year, to 38 million gallons, and a 41 percent jump in sales revenue, to $299.1 million. Nearly 1 in every 7 bottles of wine sold in the United Kingdom comes from California, the Wine Institute reported.

Other leading export markets for California wine include:

- Canada, $123.8 million

- Netherlands, $85.6 million

- Japan, $82.1 million

- Germany, $26.8 million

- Mexico, $14.5 million

- Switzerland and Denmark, $14 million each

- Ireland, $13.9 million

- Belgium/Luxembourg, $13.4 million.

The Wine Institute has managed the California wine export program since 1985, and runs promotional efforts in more than 20 countries. U.S. wine exports have shot up from $37 million in 1986 to $794 million last year.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco ... ily53.html