Between 2010 and 2011, 36 metropolitan areas expanded their exports by $1 billion or more.
Last year merchandise exports from 367 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) totaled $1.31 trillion, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported a few weeks ago.
Looking at the number of goods exported from non-metropolitan/rural areas the total was an additional $174.9 billion.
In the past three years exports from MSAs have increased nearly 40%. And the Commerce Department is very happy to report that as it fits in nicely with the government’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014.
Which cities are moving goods the fastest? First is New Orleans, which saw a 45.6% increase from 2010-2011. Salt Lake City was up 45.3% and Peoria, Ill. saw a 36.7% increase.
New York was up 23.5% while Houston increased 29.6% and Los Angeles expanded 16.9%
Much of the growth in these metropolitan areas was fueled by exports of transportation equipment, chemicals, computer and electronic products, petroleum and coal products, and primary metal manufacturing.
Consistent with national trade figures, metropolitan area exports were strongest to our North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico.
Detroit represented the largest metropolitan area exporter to Canada in 2011, with exports from Detroit, representing 7.4% of the total U.S. metropolitan area exports to Canada.
For more information see fact sheets for the top 50 exporting MSAs in 2011.
