Exports of New Hampshire products fared well in 2011, totaling nearly $4.3 billion despite challenging economic conditions in some parts of the globe, according to a report from the state's Office of International Commerce.
The 2011 statistics show that exports were down 1.69 percent from a year ago, but, said Tina Kasim, program manager for the OIC at the Department of Resources and Economic Development, 2010 was a record year for New Hampshire companies that sell their products overseas.
"Considering tough economic situations in many parts of the world, we were anticipating a dip in the 2011 numbers," Kasim said. "The good news is that New Hampshire companies are doing well with their exports and the drop was less than we anticipated."
New Hampshire goods sent overseas in 2011 totaled $4,293,384,673. In 2010, the record year, exports totaled $4,367,331,611, which was up more than 42 percent in 2009. Last year, the state's largest trading partner was Mexico, where over $943 million worth of goods was sent. Canada was second, with over $648 million shipped and China was third, with $338 million shipped. Rounding out the top 10 countries were Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Japan and France.
In the first month of 2012, Kasim said, Canada is New Hampshire's leading trading partner.
The top five commodities exported from the Granite State are: Industrial machinery, including computers; electronics machinery, for sound and television equipment; medical devices; plastics and vehicle parts. Aerospace and aircraft parts are ninth.
To further help promote the state's aerospace technologies, the OIC has secured a joint Best of New England booth with Maine and Vermont for the Farnborough Air Show in England this July, which is the world's largest exhibition of aerospace, defense, space and security technologies. There is space available for New Hampshire businesses that deal with this sector.
Trade missions are made available through the Small Business Administration's State Export and Trade Promotion grant. Two other trade missions are planned this year; to the Montreal Aerospace Cluster in September and an effort is underway to coordinate a mission to China later this year. New Hampshire companies interested in participating in the trade missions should call Kasim at 603-271-8444.
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