Press release from U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration:
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) today announced new export data that shows merchandise exports from the Asheville metropolitan area totaled a record $1.1 billion, an increase of 11 percent or $105 million from 2012 to 2013.
“The Department of Commerce is dedicated to assisting U.S. firms in meeting the needs of global consumers while strengthening our economy and supporting jobs throughout the Asheville area and our nation,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Stefan M. Selig. “U.S. companies of all sizes are exploring the possible benefits of exporting, and looking beyond our borders to expand their customer base. More than 95 percent of potential consumers live outside the United States and crave the world-class products offered by American businesses.”
According to international trade figures released today by ITA, 156 U.S. metropolitan areas exported more than $1 billion in merchandise in 2013. More than 200 metropolitan areas registered positive export growth between 2012 and 2013 – with 134 reaching record export levels.
Key merchandise export categories for the Asheville metropolitan area in 2013 included electrical equipment, transportation equipment, paper, machinery, and computer and electronic products. Trading partners in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and NAFTA were the leading destinations for Asheville exports.
“Metro area exporters continue to reach out to world markets through the Internet, improved logistics options, and the array of available export assistance—all of which have changed the dynamics of doing international business,” said Greg Sizemore, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Charlotte. “We assist many businesses are finding new sales opportunities in markets where they haven’t previously done business before.”
The Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration works with American businesses of all sizes to identify export opportunities for their products and services to bolster President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI). A focus of the NEI is helping metropolitan areas identify regional strengths in order to increase their exports, boost the local economy, and create jobs for American workers.
For more information on exporting, contact the U.S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Center in Charlotte at (704) 333-4886 ext. 229 or visithttp://www.export.gov/northcarolina.
For more information on the impact of Metropolitan Statistical Areas on U.S. exports, including fact sheets for the top 50 exporting MSAs in 2013, visithttp://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/metroreport/index.asp.
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