South Carolina’s 2011 exports jump 21 percent
February 28, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – February 28, 2012 – Gov. Nikki Haley, the South CarolinaDepartment of Commerce and the State Ports Authority today announced the state’s 2011 exports totaled more than $24.6 billion in goods sold to198 countries around the world. Figures represent a 21.4 percentincrease over 2010 totals. In 2011, South Carolina’s 21.4 percent export growth ranked the state 14th in the U.S.
“This is great news for South Carolina. We will continue to work onimproving and modernizing our ports system, which plays a key role inbringing companies from around the globe to our great state,” said Gov.Nikki Haley.
The state’s top 10 export industries last year were vehicles, machinery, rubber, electrical machinery, plastics, paper and paperboard, organicchemicals, optics and medical equipment, wood pulp and cotton yarn andfabric. Of the top product sectors, the three experiencing the largestpercentage increase were vehicles at a 52 percent increase, cotton yarnand fabric at nearly a 50 percent increase and electrical machinery atnearly a 25 percent increase.
“South Carolinians know how to make things – and we ship them the worldover. Both Germany and Canada remain very important trade partners forSouth Carolina, and China is increasingly becoming a strong market forgoods made in our state,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
South Carolina ranked first among U.S. states in tire exports, holding nearly 30% of the share of U.S. made exported tires.
South Carolina is poised to become the number one tire producing statein the U.S. and the tires that we make here are exported all over theworld,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president, Michelin NorthAmerica.
Posting a 36 percent increase from 2010, Germany overtook Canada againfor the top spot as South Carolina’s number one export market in 2011,purchasing nearly $4 billion in products. Canada was a close second,purchasing more than $3.7 billion in products. China remained at numberthree in 2011, purchasing more than $3 billion. Rounding out the top 10export markets in 2011 in order of rank were Mexico at number four, theUnited Kingdom, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
“Exporters in South Carolina’s manufacturing and agricultural sectorsbenefit from access to competitive, deepwater port facilities,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority.“Growing our export base is essential to generating jobs in the maritime industry and across the state.”
South Carolina Commerce has also taken an active role in helping thestate’s small businesses and homegrown companies reach markets outsidethe U.S.
2011 S.C. export rankings among states:
- Ranked 17th in exports.
- Ranked only behind California in exports to Germany
- Ranked 4th in exports to Saudi Arabia
- Ranked 9th in exports to India
- Ranked 10th in exports to China
- Ranked first in exports of tires, holding nearly 30% of the share of US made exported tires
- Ranked first in exports of automobiles to the world, surpassing Michigan.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Departmentof Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing businesses grow. Commerce received the Silver Award from Business Facilitiesmagazine, placing second in the 2011 Economic Development Deal of theYear competition. Commerce has been part of recruiting world-classcompanies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental,Monster.com, Heinz, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. Commerce also supports small and existing business, rural development initiatives and offersgrants for community development. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
