SALT LAKE CITY - The International Trade and Diplomacy Office of the Governor's Office of Economic Development is pleased with its 2009 year-end commodity export figures as announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Utah companies exported over $10.3 billion in 2009 which equaled their export dollars from 2008.
The economic challenges of the past year saw double digit export decreases nationally. Some western states were down 24-54 percent. The average loss for all states was 19.5 percent, with 12 states declining more than 25 percent.
Utah's four year export average remains very positive overall. Over 2,400 Utah businesses involved in export held their own when compared to the rest of the country, leaving Utah as the number one state in the nation poised to lead the export recovery called for by President Barack Obama. The President recently called for a doubling of exports over the next five years.
"Utah is poised to lead the nation in export growth because of the sound business practices and innovative products of the State's business community," said Spencer Eccles, GOED executive director. "Utah's competitive operating costs and focus on targeted industry clusters have shown consistent job growth despite the national downturn and many of those jobs we have added are in companies that export."
Utah is beginning 2010 with signs of strength; as 2009 ended, the month of December was the largest single export month on record. "We see Utah companies, particularly our small manufacturing concerns, aggressively seeking global markets, to insure their future and to provide future jobs for Utahns," said Craig Peterson, GOED International trade director.
"Under the strong leadership of Governor Gary Herbert, Utah's exports have again reached a new high. Having the top export performance in the nation last year reflects the hard work, excellent quality and deep commitment of the more than 2,400 Utah businesses that are seeking out international sales. We especially salute the estimated 85 percent of these Utah firms who are in the small to medium size businesses. The World Trade Center Utah plans to work even harder with GOED, our state chambers of commerce, EDCUtah, the U.S Commercial Service and our many other strategic partners to build on this superb record for Utah in 2010," said Lew Cramer, President/CEO, World Trade Center Utah.
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