Exports and International Trade
Global competitiveness is an important factor in determining current and future economic strength.
With established market strongholds in North America and throughout Europe, nation-leading initiatives in China and India, and an eye toward ground-floor entry into emerging markets worldwide, only our status as a global competitor is growing faster than our exports.
And our reputation as a great place to do business is well known to company executives outside of the United States. More than 700 affiliates of foreign-owned companies from Asia, Europe, Canada, and Latin America are directly invested in Minnesota.
The Big Picture on Exports
You can view detailed quarterly and annual export reports, but here’s a big-picture overview.
In the face of a global recession, Minnesota’s total exports – from manufacturing, services and agricultural industries – were estimated at $27 billion in 2009, down from the prior year but still a solid performance. First quarter sales in 2010 showed a strong rebound.
- Exports of agricultural commodities were estimated at $4 billion in 2009. Minnesota is the seventh-largest state exporter of agricultural commodities and related food products.
- Exports of services cover transportation-related services, royalties and licenses, and other private services. They were valued at $9.1 billion in 2009 and accounted for 33 percent of total exports.
- Commodities and services increased their share of the state’s exports from 40 percent in 2007 to 45 percent in 2008.
A Focus on Manufactured Exports
Our manufactured exports totaled $14.6 billion in 2009 and accounted for 55 percent of the state's total exports.
Minnesota ranks 20th among all states in manufactured exports. And Minnesota is among the top 15 states in four of its five major exporting manufacturing industries:
- Computers and electronics (9th)
- Machinery (14th)
- Miscellaneous products (8th)
- Food (11th).
Manufactured exports are crucial to the state’s economy.
They are responsible for an estimated 131,800 jobs in Minnesota, ranking 16th largest among all states, according to the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (2006 estimate).
Exporting of manufactured goods supported 59,000 export-related jobs in manufacturing, up 8 percent since 2005.
Another 72,800 export-related jobs are found in other industries such as transportation and logistics fields – key sectors in delivering product to export markets.
Top Export Value by Industry, 2009
Products Exports (in millions)
Computers. Electronics 3,378
Machinery 2,445
Misc. (including medical) 1,935
Transport. Equip. 1,653
Food 1,231
Chemicals 812
Electrical Equipment 635
Paper 579
Fabricated Metals 533
Top Export Markets by Country, 2009
Country Exports Distribution
(millions)
Canada 3,805 26.0%
China 1,262 7.3%
Ireland 897 6.1%
Japan 738 5.1%
Mexico 663 4.5%
Germany 752 4.5%
United Kingdom 741 4.3%
Belgium 625 3.6%
Korea 506 3.5%
Australia 423 2.9%
Rest of the World 30.9%
Total 17,290 100.0%