National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones Announces 2012 Export Award Recipients
September 25, 2012
BMW Manufacturing, Subaru of Indiana, DNP Electronics America and City of El Paso Win Top Zone Exporting Honors
WASHINGTON, DC – September 24, 2012 – The National Association ofForeign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) has presented its top annual private-sectorexport awards to three outstanding American exporters. BMW Manufacturingreceived both the 2012 Export Achievement Award and, for the secondconsecutive year, the 2012 Top Exporter of the Year Award. Subaru ofIndiana was recognized with the 2012 Export Growth Award. DNPElectronics America is the recipient of the 2012 Export Innovator Award. In addition, the City of El Paso’s Foreign-Trade Zone No. 68 won theGeneral Purpose Zone Export Achievement Award.
I am very pleased to recognize the accomplishments of these outstandingAmerican exporters, said Lewis Leibowitz, NAFTZ Chairman. Theydemonstrate what is possible through use of the FTZ program and serve asan inspiration to other firms, large and small, to expand theirhorizons and capitalize on their export potential – creating morebusiness for American communities and more jobs for American workers.
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant (Subzone38A) currently produces over 1,000 vehicles each day and is theexclusive exporter of X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the X6Sports Activity Coupe through the Port of Charleston. This year, theplant is projected to produce more than 300,000 vehicles and will exportapproximately 70% of those vehicles to more than 130 global markets.
BMW Manufacturing was the top exporter of the year in FY 2010, with$5.239 billion in exports. The company also qualified for the exportachievement award by having the largest nominal increase in exports ofany FTZ subzone. Exports from the South Carolina facility increased by$2.14 billion in FY 2010, growing from $3.099 billion in FY 09 to $5.239billion in FY 10.
Sky Foster, Manager for Corporate Communications at BMW Manufacturing,said We are very proud of our accomplishments. I wish to thank ourassociates, Tier 1 Suppliers and the South Carolina Ports Authority fortheir support in our shared success.
Since beginning production in 1994, BMW Manufacturing has produced over 2million vehicles. Earlier this year, the company announced another $900Million expansion that will increase capacity to 350,000 units by 2014and bring a new model to its Spartanburg operation.
Subaru of Indiana’s Subzone 72H, located in Lafayette, is a subzone ofIndianapolis Zone 72, operated by Greater Indianapolis FTZ, Inc. In FY2010, Subaru of Indiana showed the largest percentage increase inexports of any NAFTZ member subzone – an increase of 410%, from $39.87million in FY 2009 to $203.29 million in FY 2010.
Subaru of Indiana manufactures the Subaru Outback, Legacy, and Tribecaline of vehicles and is the only Subaru auto assembly plant in theUnited States. SIA Associates also build the Toyota Camry through abusiness collaboration with Toyota.
DNP Electronics America, LLC was established in 2001 to manufacture,market, and sell optical screens for the North American rear projectiontelevision market. Since then, the firm has expanded its product lineconsiderably. The Chula Vista, California, facility manufactures,warehouses, and distributes projection televisions screens and itsforeign-trade subzone 153C was approved in July 2005 and has sinceexpanded its scope of FTZ operations five times. Approximately 700,000screens were exported from the facility in 2009. The operation is fullyautomated and utilizes electronic In-Bond filing (known as QP/WP) toexpedite its export shipment process. DNP Electronics America has helpedto attract new export activity to the Chula Vista facility through useof the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program.
FTZ No. 68. The largest foreign-trade zone operation along the US/Mexicoborder, El Paso’s Zone No. 68 is managed by Jose Quinonez,Foreign-Trade Zone Manage for El Paso International Airport. From FY2009 to FY 2010, exports from the Zone increased by 168 percent – from$643 million to $1.727 billion. As of FY 2010, 30 businesses wereoperating in the zone.
The awards were presented at NAFTZ’s 40th Annual Conference & Exposition, held recently in San Diego, California.
The U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program is a valuable strategic tool thatmany American companies can use to compete more effectively in worldmarkets, said NAFTZ President Daniel Griswold. NAFTZ encourages allfirms involved in global trade to explore how foreign-trade zones canhelp them succeed and we stand ready to provide whatever assistance wecan.
The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones is a not-for-profittrade association of 650 members representing public and privateorganizations involved in the foreign-trade zones program, includingstate and local governments, economic development organizations,distribution and warehouse firms, corporations engaged in exporting andimporting, and legal services and professional consulting firms. FTZsplay an important role in facilitating international trade andincreasing the global competitiveness of U.S.-based companies bymaintaining the cost competitiveness of U.S.-based operations with theirforeign-based competitors. Over 2,400 U.S. companies and 320,000American workers participate in the FTZ economy. NAFTZ is the primaryvoice of communities and industries that utilize the FTZ program,including zone grantees, operators and users.
