Export growth benefits Nebraska companies2006 Nebraska exports up over previous year
The U.S. Commercial Service today announced new Commerce Department data that shows Nebraska exports increased almost 21 percent in 2006 over the previous year, and 43 percent from 2002-2006, to $3.6 billion.
“Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States, and more Nebraska companies are working to reach these buyers,” said Meredith Bond, Omaha U.S. Export Assistance Center Director. “Exporting helps companies increase their bottom line and those who think global have a competitive advantage in today’s marketplace.”
From 2002-2006, Nebraska exports increased to many of the state’s top destinations, including Canada (83 percent), Mexico (73 percent), China (139 percent), and Australia (94 percent). Many other Nebraska export destinations posted solid gains as well. Machinery manufactures, chemical manufactures, transportation equipment, and processed foods ranked among Nebraska’s leading exports.
“Not selling internationally is like leaving money on the table,” said Israel Hernandez, Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service. “If you do business here in the United States, the most competitive market in the world, then you can certainly sell your product or service in other markets around the world.”
“We have free trade agreements in force with 14 countries, and several more pending. Last year, U.S. exports to countries where there was an FTA in effect, exceeded $437 billion, accounting for 42 percent of U.S. exports.” Hernandez continued. "The importance of these agreements to American workers, farmers, businesses and consumers is why the Bush Administration has requested Congress renew the President's Trade Promotion Authority.”
Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), enacted in 2002, expires June 30 of this year. TPA facilitates free trade agreements with our partners, thus enabling U.S. businesses to meet the foreign competition head-on. With TPA, Congress considers free trade agreements as a whole, rather than subjecting completed agreements to the possibility of changes or amendments.
For information on the Commercial Service, call the Omaha U.S. Export Assistance Center at 402-597-0193, or visit For general information, contact: Matt Englehart at 202-482-3809, or Meredith Bond at 402-597-0193.
Nebraska exported to 170 different countries in 2006
2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006
World Total / $2,701,795,235 / $2,527,632,208 / $2,723,669,948 / $2,316,114,025 / $3,003,585,336 / $3,624,877,816
1 / Canada / $572,270,142 / $561,025,204 / $700,487,245 / $689,635,953 / $891,089,184 / $1,027,151,963
2 / Mexico / $448,650,029 / $465,056,476 / $472,447,771 / $418,198,162 / $528,683,427 / $802,891,735
3 / Japan / $620,951,897 / $429,290,717 / $357,856,064 / $193,356,775 / $248,744,251 / $225,690,023
4 / China / $68,634,072 / $75,587,088 / $84,125,184 / $87,738,177 / $111,153,104 / $180,624,150
5 / Australia / $41,699,009 / $50,778,607 / $62,034,153 / $85,503,389 / $126,308,515 / $98,497,990
6 / United Kingdom / $61,435,262 / $56,593,617 / $44,851,878 / $45,594,884 / $62,850,012 / $88,254,492
7 / South Korea / $122,953,618 / $178,524,836 / $166,594,015 / $46,972,948 / $63,833,412 / $85,664,785
8 / Netherlands / $101,085,038 / $74,283,553 / $98,682,514 / $86,439,673 / $72,538,069 / $84,015,016
9 / Belgium / $22,135,615 / $34,616,999 / $36,679,952 / $33,248,131 / $45,710,524 / $82,745,993
10 / Germany / $30,084,207 / $26,674,830 / $44,959,741 / $40,743,906 / $65,203,153 / $81,238,548
11 / Qatar / $143,910 / $200,146 / $5,282,978 / $10,315,511 / $78,213,490 / $75,257,924
12 / Taiwan / $68,711,489 / $65,052,343 / $71,493,742 / $58,554,190 / $69,171,816 / $64,587,194
13 / Italy / $45,752,147 / $28,774,232 / $61,038,297 / $44,844,429 / $45,530,492 / $54,951,068
14 / France / $33,045,566 / $46,737,898 / $33,161,057 / $29,525,267 / $49,785,532 / $50,052,350
15 / Russian Federation / $2,788,590 / $6,412,622 / $5,098,879 / $10,047,044 / $17,565,596 / $42,841,974
16 / Hong Kong / $34,496,875 / $34,693,312 / $42,011,673 / $35,493,760 / $26,183,652 / $36,722,183
17 / Singapore / $32,661,622 / $31,655,177 / $47,162,822 / $32,400,076 / $32,164,708 / $33,789,564
18 / Spain / $17,614,582 / $24,752,400 / $21,460,936 / $20,711,266 / $20,922,749 / $29,623,285
19 / Brazil / $20,257,837 / $18,286,843 / $21,311,071 / $29,565,314 / $33,059,227 / $26,250,381
20 / South Africa / $11,241,610 / $23,616,899 / $18,188,100 / $24,809,720 / $21,806,908 / $25,639,268
21 / Dominican Republic / $6,839,837 / $7,225,296 / $16,513,159 / $5,566,858 / $14,154,448 / $24,736,299
22 / Thailand / $42,638,131 / $36,217,927 / $37,035,198 / $25,910,234 / $29,435,049 / $24,059,908
23 / New Zealand / $9,699,137 / $10,601,112 / $12,618,046 / $19,767,378 / $24,818,350 / $22,883,119
24 / Argentina / $9,641,744 / $2,793,714 / $9,721,610 / $14,635,582 / $14,107,265 / $21,921,336
25 / Ireland / $29,146,225 / $24,696,357 / $16,652,033 / $14,584,486 / $14,720,924 / $21,348,712