Monday, March 5, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Missouri Sets Export Record in 2006
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt announced today that Missouri set a record in 2006 with $12.8 billion in sales to 191 countries around the world according to data compiled by the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER).
"This is outstanding news for Missouri’s working families who made this possible," Blunt said. "This shows that our pro-jobs, pro-growth focus is having a positive impact on our economy and is helping get more Missouri-made products to the global marketplace."
Export figures demonstrate that Missouri’s economy is truly diverse, global and competitive. International sales by Missouri companies increased by 22.1 percent or $2.4 billion in 2006 compared to the previous high of $10.4 billion in exports set in 2005.
Twelve Missouri product categories each topped $200 million in export sales in 2006 including: transportation equipment ($5 billion), chemicals ($2 billion), machinery ($1.1 billion), food and kindred products ($721 million), electrical equipment ($592 million), computer and electronic products ($489 million), fabricated metal products ($388 million), waste and scrap ($361 million), mineral and ores ($350 million), primary metal manufacturing ($286 million), agricultural products ($267 million), and plastics and rubber products ($230 million).
Small businesses play an important role in this thriving export market. U.S. Census Bureau data show that companies with less than 50 employees comprised 29 percent of all U.S. exports. Ninety-five percent of the 162,630 businesses in Missouri have less than 50 employees.
Missouri’s top ten export recipients in 2006 were Canada, South Korea, Mexico, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands, accounting for 82 percent of the state’s export revenues.
"My administration will continue to build relationships with our existing trade partners and to open new markets for Missouri products," Blunt said.
As governor, Blunt has made revitalizing the state’s once-stagnant economy a top priority. Since he took office in January 2005 employers and entrepreneurs have created more than 50,000 new jobs and his efforts to secure reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation laws, real lawsuit reform and the implementation of his Quality Jobs Act have been commended by job creators throughout Missouri.
For more information on Missouri’s new export record visit the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) internet site at www.missourieconomy.org.
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