Minnesota Set Export Record in 3rd Quarter

Get our free mobile app

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - Minnesota experienced a surge in export activity during the third quarter of this year.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is reporting the state's export total rose 28% to a record high of $7.3 billion when compared to the same three-month period a year ago. Since the beginning of this year, shipments of agricultural, mining, and manufactured products to other nations are up 18% from last year.

Canada remained Minnesota's largest customer, with more than $2.5 billion in purchases. Mexico was second with exports totaling $712 million, followed by China at $651 million in purchases of Minnesota products. The shipments to Canada were up 58% compared to last year, exports to Mexico grew 14%, while shipments to China were down 3%.

Minnesota's largest export category is mineral fuel and oil, which accounted for more than $1.2 billion of the quarterly export total. That was followed by electrical equipment with nearly $1 billion in sales, and optic and medical products with exports totaling $978 million.