Minnesota Enjoyed Record Exports in 2014

Minnesota set a new record for exports last year.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development says the $5.5 billion dollars in shipments of agricultural, mining and manufactured products from the state to other countries in the fourth quarter boosted the export total for all of 2014 to a record high $21.4 billion. That is up nearly 3-percent from 2013 and is about $600 million higher than the previous export record set in 2012.

“Minnesota has a diverse and robust export economy, with more than 930 different products going to 192 countries in the fourth quarter,” said DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. “More than 8,600 Minnesota companies are exporting, most of them small- and medium-sized businesses.”

The department reports exports to Mexico grew over 50-percent to $2.2 billion, but Canada remained the state’s best customer with $5.6 billion in purchases.