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Exports through Louisiana up 45 percent

BY TED GRIGGS

Advocate business writer

December 13, 2011

The value of goods exported from Louisiana during the first nine months of the year jumped

45 percent to $39.8 billion, compared with $27.4 billion for the same period in 2010,

according to a report by the World Trade Center of New Orleans.

The report includes the exports of products originating in Louisiana, and bulk commodities,

such as grain and coal, produced in other states and shipped abroad from Louisiana ports.

These numbers reflect Louisianas importance as one of the leading export centers in theworld, WTC Chief Executive Officer Dominik Knoll said in a news release. This year weve

seen not only strong growth in our agricultural and energy exports, but in manufacturing

sectors as well.

Knoll said Louisiana could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of free-trade agreements the

United States signed with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, the seventh-largest export

destination for Louisiana.

Louisianas largest export markets through the third quarter were China at $4.01 billion;

Mexico, $3.99 billion; and Japan, $2.75 billion.

Total U.S. exports increased by nearly 18 percent through the third quarter. Louisiana

ranked No. 7 in exports among all states, up two spots from the same period last year.

However, Louisiana had the highest rate of growth. Illinois increase was second at 32

percent.

The WTC did not have the total value of Louisiana-originated exports.

However,Jerry Hingle, executive director of theSouthern United States Trade Association,

said the U.S. Department of Agriculture does provide agriculture exports by state, which

help show the impact of Midwest grain shipped from Louisiana ports.

The total agriculture goods shipped from Louisiana totaled about $23 billion, according to

the federal Agriculture Department. Total agriculture goods produced and exported from

Louisiana is about $1 billion.

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8/3/2019 Louisiana Exports Rise 45% | Southern United States Trade Association

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In a news release, Larry Collins, director of international services for Louisianas Economic

Development department, said the economic uncertainty in the European Union has had

little impact so far on Louisianas exports.

The value of petroleum and coal products exports grew 78 percent higher to $13.5 billion, as

a result of higher worldwide demand and prices, according to the WTC. During the first nine

months of 2011, oil- and gas-related exports rocketed to $301.9 million, a 559 percent jump

over the $45.8 million for the same period in 2010.

Louisianas other leading categories included agricultural products, $11.9 billion, up 37.2

percent; chemicals, $6.1 billion, up 31.5 percent; food products, $3.23 billion, up 15.4

percent; and minerals and ores, $1.3 billion, up 142 percent.

The numbers prove once again that the U.S. and Louisianas agriculture and food sector are

highly competitive on a global scale, Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner

Mike Strain said in a news release. With worldwide demand growing strongly over the

coming decades, the U.S. and Louisiana will be increasingly called on to supply food and

fiber.