State ExportsRebound in 2017, Jumping 8 Percent to $21 Billion
- Minnesota exports of goods (including agricultural, mining and manufactured products)increased to $21 billion in 2017, reboundingfrom 2016, witha growth rate of 8 percent in 2017. U.S. exportsincreased 7percent during the same period.
- Exports from a majority of states grew in 2017; strongly recovering from declines in 2016.
- Minnesota had the 23rd highest export value among U.S. states, and exported 1,053different products (4-digit HS codes) to 203 countries.
- Exports of goods and services supported about 118,000 jobs in Minnesota in 2016.
- Minnesota’s manufactured exports grew 7 percent to $19 billion in 2017, compared to U.S. growth of 5 percent.
Figure 1. Positive Export Growth for 42 States, DC
Decline 0% Growth
Global Export Growth - Strongest Trends in Asian, North Americanand European Markets
- Exports to Asiasurpassed $7 billion (up 10 percent), fueled by Japan (up 30 percent) and China (up 10 percent). Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan,Vietnamand India had impressive gainsin sales of $15 million or more.
- Exports to North America were up 5 percent to $6.7 billion. Ores/slag/ash (mainly iron ores)and machinery exports drove growth inCanada.Cereals (mostly corn) and vehicles (parts) grew strongly toMexico.
- Exports to Europe grew 7 percent to $4.6 billion; 91 percent of these sales were sent to European Union markets.The Netherlands($502 million, up $132 million) andGermany ($887 million, up $124 million) contributed the most to growth. Sales also expanded well toPoland, the U.K, Italyand France.
- Strong growth markets in the Central & South America ($1 billion, up 8 percent) includedBrazil (up 10 percent), Panama(up 54 percent),Haiti (up 243 percent)and Argentina (up 23 percent).Sales also grew to the Australia-Pacific region ($635 million, up 23 percent) and the Middle East ($401 million, up 3 percent).
Figure 2. Minnesota’s Top 10 Export Markets, 2017
Optic/Medical, Electrical Machinery, Iron Ores, Plasticsand MachineryLead in Export Gains
- Exports of optic/medical goodsgained 8 percent to reach $3.8 billion. Strong gains in Korea, China and Japanhelped offset losses inBelgium, Singapore and Switzerland.Optic fiber products(up 58 percent) primarily drove growth. Exports of testing equipment, measuring instruments and medical/surgical instruments also increased.
- Sales of electrical machinery grew 11 percent to $2.8 billion.Businesses increased their exports by $25 million to $50 million in each Japan, China, Canadaand the U.K.;and successfully expanded sales of integrated circuits, telecommunications equipment and diodes/transistors in particular.
- Exports of ores, slag, ash (mostly iron ores) jumped 175 percent to $344 million. Compared to recent years, sales to Canada rebounded, gaining 212 percent to $203 million. Sales to Japansurged 595 percent to $131 million.
- Exports of plastics grew 15 percent to $1.4 billion.Primary polyethers, resins drove export growth toMexico ($188 million, up 27 percent), while flat-shaped plastics (such as plates, sheets, film) drove increased sales to Singapore ($102 million, up 57 percent) and Germany($91 million, up 45 percent).
- Machinery exports reached $3.3 million in2017. Increased sales toCanada ($686 million, up 7 percent), Australia ($107 million, up 41 percent) andChina ($398 million, up 8 percent) helped mitigate declines toKorea, Singapore and Thailand. Strong areas includedsemiconductor machines, centrifuges/filtersand taps/valves.
- Exports of aircraft, spacecraft grew 19 percent to $604 million, powered bycivilian aircraft and parts in the Netherlands ($117 million, up from $9 million) and New Zealand ($147 million, up 96 percent).
- Exports from multiple chemical areas grew strongly.China’s demand for blood products drove increased sales of pharmaceuticals ($429 million, up 26 percent.).Germany and China led growth in albumins, starches, glue ($224 million, up 46 percent).Mexico and Singapore drove gains in inks, dyes ($138 million, up 51 percent). Japanfueled increased exports of organic chemicals ($179 million, up 22 percent).
- High-performing food segments includedmeat ($372 million, up 12 percent – led by Korea and Japan);baked products ($142 million, up 37 percent – led by Canada);dairy, eggs, honey ($133 million, up 37 percent – led by China and Mexico);prepared meat, fish, seafood ($108 million, up 15 percent – led by Canada);andvegetables ($78 million, up 22 percent – led by Italy and the U.K.).
- Exports of miscellaneous grain, seed (largelysoybeans and related products) fell 14 percent to $254 million, and of food by-products fell 8 percent to $531 million. Sales of these goodsslumped especially to China and Mexico.