OGDEN -- Davis, Weber and Morgan counties posted the 15th largest growth in export sales among the nation's 100 biggest metropolitan areas between 2003 and 2008, according to a national study released today.
The study was completed by the Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. It analyzes export activity for the 10 largest metros in the Intermountain West, including the Ogden-Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Weber, Davis and Morgan counties.
The purpose of the study is to examine why exports are important to the national economy, as well as why metro areas are vital to exports.
"Despite periods of rising prosperity, the last three decades have been characterized by middle- and lower-income wage stagnation, a lack of job opportunities for those without college degrees, and a speculative bubble-inducing trade deficit," says the report." A significant increase in U.S. exports could dramatically improve each of these conditions. Because metro areas are where over 83 percent of U.S. exports are produced, strategies to enhance their unique concentrations of industry clusters and specific competitive advantages would greatly strengthen national export performance."
The study centered on data gathered from 2003 to 2008 because that time frame includes the most complete information, said Mark Muro, a policy director for Brookings.
The report shows during the five-year period that exports in the Ogden-Clearfield metro area were relatively modest and totaled about $2.2 billion annually, said Muro.
However, 12.7 percent of the products produced in the area in 2008 were exported, which ranked 25th among the nation's top 100 metros, according to the report.
In addition, exports in the Ogden-Clearfield metro area expanded 14.4 percent during the five-year period, resulting in 19,561 jobs.
"Ogden and Provo (metropolitan areas) have had a strong performance, increased activity and substantial growth-oriented exports," said Muro.
Major export industries in the Ogden-Clearfield metro area are transportation equipment manufacturing, metal manufacturing, petroleum and coal product manufacturing, medical equipment, sporting goods, jewelry and technical services.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey said the expansion of Business Depot Ogden, a former military installation that has been converted into an industrial park, coupled with tax incentives from the state, have attracted companies to the area, which has resulted in more exports.
"We have a good team (of state and local officials as well as amenities at BDO) that has enabled us to be effective," he said.
Scott USA, an outdoor sports equipment manufacturer moved from Clearfield to a 400,000-square-foot building in BDO in 2006 that serves as the company's North American distribution facility.
The company exports winter gear such as ski poles, gloves and goggles to customers in Australia and Canada, and BMX gear to Mexico, and wants to expand into other countries, said Scott Eichmeier, distribution manager for Scott USA.
"It's definitely part of our plan that we are trying to grow," he said.
Lifetime Products, headquartered in the Freeport Center in Clearfield, exports folding tables, chairs, residential basketball hoops and other sporting goods to more than 50 countries. International sales account for nearly 20 percent of Lifetime's total revenue, said Sean Brophy, vice president of international sales for the company.
"Lifetime has increased its focus on growing and developing our product placement outside the U.S.," Brophy said in an e-mail to the Standard-Examiner. "We have been able to expand our presence in international markets by teaming up with our U.S. retail partners, such as Costco and Sam's Club as they expand into International markets."
Brophy said Lifetime has established warehousing and distribution facilities in key markets, such as Mexico, Europe, Canada, Australia and China, to facilitate sales internationally.
Lifetime also has an emerging market strategy with focused attention on Brazil, China and India. The company has seen significant growth in Asia and Latin America this year.
Utah has been extremely successful in clustering specific industries, such as aerospace and outdoor-sports equipment companies, in Northern Utah, which has placed its export efforts ahead of most other states, said Muro.
"Many states haven't taken it (exports) seriously," he said.
Utah companies exported products valued at more than $10.3 billion in 2009, which equaled figures from 2008, according to the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
The state will likely exceed those export totals this year, said Craig Peterson, GOED's international trade director.
The Provo-Orem metro area had about $1.8 billion in annual exports from 2003 to 2008. About 12.7 percent of the products produced were exported in 2008 and 17, 477 jobs were created by exports. according to the Brookings report.
The Salt Lake City metro area produced $6.1 billion in total exports between 2003 and 2008. About 10.5 percent of what it produced was exported in 2008, supporting 57,022 jobs.
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