JOHNSON PRAISES OHIO ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Ohio Leads Nation in Exports with 7.4 Percent Increase in Sales

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2004

Columbus, OH -- State Development Director Bruce Johnson today released the 2003 International Trade Division Annual Report. According to the report, Ohio exports totaled $29.8 billion in 2003 - a 7.4 percent increase over 2002. Nationally, exports increased by only 4.4 percent in 2003.

“Ohio companies continue to pursue international business opportunities that will help them increase sales and create jobs for Ohio residents,” Johnson said. “I commend Ohio’s exporters for their leadership in today’s competitive global marketplace, and for positioning Ohio as a national leader in export sales.”

Ohio’s exports have consistently grown faster than U.S. exports over the past few years. Since the end of 2000, Ohio’s exports have increased more than any other state, and since the end of 1997, only Texas’ exports have increased more than Ohio’s. All export figures are for goods only. Exported services are not tabulated.

Ohio is the nation’s sixth-largest exporter. It ranks second in automotive goods exports, and third in both plastic and machinery exports. Automotive and machinery exports account for 54 percent of the state’s exports. In addition, Ohio’s automotive exports increased more than 21 percent last year.

Ohio companies exported to 205 foreign destinations in 2003. Canada and Mexico remained Ohio’s top two export markets in 2003, receiving nearly 63.8 percent of all Ohio exports. Ohio shipped $16.9 billion, or 57.8 percent of its exports to Canada in 2003, while exports to Mexico have increased nearly 200 percent since 1996, reaching $2.1 billion last year. The UK was third with $1.2 billion in exports in 2003, followed by Japan, where Governor Bob Taft will be leading an international trade mission this fall, with $1.1 billion in exports.

Johnson noted that the real benefit of exports is in the jobs that are created. According to the Institute for International Economics, every billion dollars of exports support 7,500 manufacturing jobs, meaning more than 223,000 Ohio manufacturing jobs can be attributed to last year’s exports. This does not include hundreds of thousands of jobs related to exported services, or indirectly exported goods, nor those employed by firms that support exporters.

“Globalization is a reality Ohio companies face every day,” said Johnson. “With 10 foreign offices, annual missions and an experienced staff, the Department of Development can help companies tap into the global marketplace and create good jobs for Ohio’s citizens.”

Ohio companies and organizations interested in promoting foreign investment or seeking export opportunities are encouraged to contact the Ohio Department of Development's International Trade Division by phone at (614) 466-5017 or (800) 848-1300, or visit www.odod.state.oh.us/itd. The report is also available at that web address.