DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

                                     

                   Mark Bisom

                        International Trade & Relations Bureau

                        Montana Department of Commerce

                   (406) 841-2752

 

                        Marissa Kozel

                   Communications Director

                   Montana Department of Commerce

                   (406) 841-2772

 

(HELENA) – Governor Brian Schweitzer today announced a near record high total of $1.96 billion for Montana’s combined bulk wheat and manufactured exports. This is a 33% increase over 2009 figures, making 2010 the second highest export year following Montana’s record high peak of $2.06 billion in 2008.   

 

“Montana’s exports continue to show exceptional growth in the worldwide market,” said Governor Schweitzer. “We have seen significant export growth to countries like Korea, where our coal exports have increased 145% from 2009 to 2010. That increase represents over $80 million in business for Montana. This is positive news for our producers, manufacturers and our overall economy.”

 

The Republic of Korea is now one of Montana’s top export markets, moving to 2nd place in 2010, up from 5th in 2009. Korea’s appetite for commodities and manufactured exports like coal, inorganic chemicals and industrial machinery pushed 2010 export totals to $186.8 million. This is an increase of 141% above 2009 figures.

 

 

Total - $1.96 Billion in Combined Exports

 

#1 Canada – $ 539.7

#2 Republic of Korea – $186.8

#3 China (Mainland) – $122.9

#4 Japan – $109.8

#5 China (Taiwan) – $93.5

#6 Mexico –$79.9

#7 United Kingdom – $37.3

#8 Germany – $25.6

#9 Belgium –$24.8

#10 Netherlands –$18.5

*These figures do not include bulk wheat exports

 

 

#1 Bulk Wheat – $541.1

#2 Inorganic Chemicals – $376.6

#3 Industrial Machinery (including computers) – $212.9

#4 Mineral Fuel, Oil etc. – $210.9

#5 Vehicles, Parts etc. – $98.2

#6 Aircraft, Parts etc. –$ 80.3

#7 Salt; Sulfur; Earth & Stone – $61.5

#8 Organic Chemicals – $53.6

#9 Ores, Slag & Ash –$42.7

#10 Optic, Medical or Surgical Instruments –$31.9

#11 Cereals –$26.6

#12 Wood & Articles of Wood –$25.6

#13 Pharmaceutical Products –$22.7

#14 Bakers Wares (cereal, flour, starch or milk) –$20.0

#15 Electric Machinery –$19.5

#16 Misc Chemical Products –$19.1

#17 Live Animals –$15.3

#18 Food Industry Residues (Prep Animal Feed) –$10.5

#19 Musical Instruments (Parts & Accessories) –$8.9

#20 Edible Vegetables –$8.7

 

In 2010, Montana sent 102 million bushels of wheat to exporting facilities on the U.S. west coast. According to the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, the bulk of these shipments were sent to Japanwith secondary markets being Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia. (Roughly 70-80% of all Montana wheat is exported to Asia.)

 

 

·         Canada remained the state’s largest export partner with $541.1 million in combined exports followed by the Republic of Korea ($187.0 mil), China (Mainland) ($123.0 mil), Japan ($110.0 mil) & Taiwan ($93.0) respectively to round out the state’s top 5 export partner countries. 

 

·         There was an overall increase of commodity exports of more than 100% to partner countries which included the Republic of Korea, China (Mainland) & Mexico from 2009 to 2010.

 

·         Montana exported 17.5 million more bushels of bulk wheat in 2010 than in 2009. 

 

·         Inorganic Chemicals was the top manufactured export commodity with $376.6 million in combined exports. The category includes, but is not limited to, copper oxides and silicon.

 

·         The second ranked category of manufactured exports includes fabrication machines used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices with $212.9 million in exports.

 

·         Aircraft & parts increased 370% to bring in $80.3 million back to the state’s economy with $70 million of that being exported to Canada. (This commodity export category was not previously exported until 2004.)

 

·         Mineral fuel exports increased 140% from 2009 to 2010. This category includes (but is not limited to) coal, oil from petrol & bitum minerals, petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen, petroleum gases, & crude oil from petroleum & bituminous minerals. 

 

·         Agriculture exports continued the export increase trends with cereals, live animals & prepared animal feed commodities all increasing over 200% and brining a combined total of $52.4 million back to Montana’s economy.

 

To date, 2011 figures are on pace to surpass 2010 near record export totals and are currently up 24% from Feb 2010 YTD totals. (These figures represent manufactured exports only. Bulk wheat figures are not included and are factored in separately.)

 

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