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NDTO News Article

North Dakota Exports Up 26% in 2012

ND Has Fourth Highest Export Growth Rate in the Nation

North Dakota’s exports increased from $3.39 billion in 2011 to $4.29 billion in 2012, a 26% increase over 2011, with total US exports increasing 4.5% over the same period. With a 26% increase, North Dakota had the 4th highest annual export growth rate compared to other states. The top five ND exports in 2012 included mineral fuel and oil products ($1.37 billion, a 60% increase from 2011), self-propelled dozers ($426 million, a 6.5% increase from 2011), agricultural tractors ($275 million, a 14% increase from 2011), soil-related agricultural equipment ($172 million, an 18% increase from 2011) and wheat ($164 million, a 15% decrease from 2011).

“North Dakota continues to be among the top in the nation for export growth,” said U.S. Commercial Service Office Director Heather Ranck. “In 2012 we saw some interesting new products rise to the top 10, including biodiesel, ethanol and malt.”

Canada continues to be North Dakota’s number one export destination with exports increasing from $2.19 billion in 2011 to $3.06 billion in 2012 which accounts for 71% of the exports from North Dakota. The top Canadian imports from North Dakota include oil products (nearly all of North Dakota’s oil exports go to Canada and then come back to the USA), self-propelled dozers ($201 million), and agricultural tractors ($169 million). The other top export destinations for North Dakota goods include Mexico ($282 million), Australia ($124 million), Belgium ($77 million), and Russia ($55 million).

North Dakota exported 1,439 unique products in 2012, a slight increase over the number of unique products exported in 2011 (1,416), indicating North Dakota companies continue to maintain an increasingly diverse range of export products.

“Exports play an important role in North Dakota’s continued economic growth,” said Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, chairman of the North Dakota Trade Office. “Utilizing the expertise and resources we have at the Trade Office and the U.S. Commercial Service, we will continue our focus on expanding North Dakota’s presence in the global marketplace.”

With its network of offices across the U.S. and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide.  In FY 2011, worldwide CS assistance helped U.S. businesses facilitate 14,600 export successes worth $54 billion in export sales. These exports support economic and job growth across the country.