St. Louis region ranks 23rd nationally for exports

From the St. Louis Business Journal. Friday, July 25, 2008
By Kelsey Volkmann

Friday, July 25, 2008. The St. Louis region ranks 23rd among cities nationwide for its export sales in the first half of last year, according to data released July 14 by the U.S. Commerce Department.

The region had an export value of $4.9 billion for the first half of 2007, according to statistics examining 369 metropolitan areas. St. Louis exported $9.6 billion worth of merchandise in 2006, and $7.2 billion in 2005.

David Bohigian, assistant secretary of the U.S. Commerce Department and a St. Louis native, announced the results at a news conference at the World Trade Center St. Louis in Clayton.

The most common products St. Louis businesses export are categorized as chemicals, transportation equipment, crops production, machinery and food. St. Louis exports most of its products to Canada, South Korea, Mexico, China, Belgium and Japan.

Through the first half of 2007, 77 metropolitan areas nationwide, including St. Louis, recorded U.S. product sales of $1 billion or more to global markets.