North Dakota exports drop 21 percent in 2009, but state still leads nation in five-year export growth

North Dakota’s exports fell from $2.8 billion in 2008 to $2.2 billion in 2009, a 21.4% decline, with US exports declining 18% over the same period. North Dakota’s exports expanded from $1.2 billion in 2005 to $2.2 billion in 2009, an 83% increase and the biggest 5-year gain in the nation. The national export expansion from 2005 to 2009 was 17%.

North Dakota was the 44th largest exporter among the 50 states, edging out Rhode Island for 44th place in 2009. North Dakota exported more than Hawaii, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico and Rhode Island in 2009.

“While the recession negatively impacted our core manufacturing exports of construction and agricultural machinery, there were some surprisingly well performing exports including barley, canola oil, combines and dry peas,” said US Commercial Service / North Dakota Director Heather Ranck. "There was an unprecedented 42% increase in the number of unique products exported from North Dakota in 2009, indicating a greater diversification in products being shipped from the state."

While North Dakota's exports to Canada declined 14% from $1.4 billion in 2008 to $1.2 billion 2009, Canada's share of ND exports grew from 52% to 57% from 2008 to 2009. Other top markets for ND goods include Mexico, Australia, Kazakhstan, India, Saudi Arabia, UK, Belgium, Germany, Russia and Nigeria. "There were some new high growth markets for North Dakota in 2009," said Ranck, "including Australia for tractors, India for lentils and chickpeas; and Saudi Arabia for aircraft."

The top 2009 North Dakota exports were agricultural tractors, crude oil, front end shovel loaders, barley, canola oil, wheat and agricultural seeders.

President Obama announced a National Export Initiative in the January 27 State of the Union address, with the goal to double US exports in the next five years. The National Export Initiative will funnel $132 million to the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), and the US Department of Agriculture to educate U.S. farmers and businesses about opportunities overseas and directly connect them with new customers.

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 2009, the U.S. Commercial Service generated over 12,000 export successes worth billions of dollars in U.S. export sales.

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