Missouri's export shipments of merchandise in 2006 totaled $12.8 billion, up 88 percent from the 2002 total of $6.8 billion, which is far larger than the 50 percent growth in total U.S. merchandise exports over the 2002-2006 period. Missouri ranks eighth among the states in terms of percentage growth in exports from 2002 to 2006.
Missouri exported to 191 foreign destinations in 2006. The state's largest market in 2006, by far, was NAFTA member Canada, which received exports of $4.8 billion, or 38 percent of the 2006 total. Canada was followed by South Korea ($1.6 billion), Mexico ($1.2 billion), China ($769 million), and Japan ($547 million). Other top markets included the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands.
Missouri's biggest growth market, in dollar terms, is Canada. From 2002 to 2006, export shipments to Canada increased by $1.7 billion. During this period Missouri also posted large dollar gains in exports to South Korea (up $1.5 billion), China (up $640 million), Mexico (up $546 million), and Belgium (up $250 million).
Of Missouri's 30 top markets, exports of goods to South Korea grew the fastest over the 2002-2006 period. The state's shipments to South Korea surged from $115 million to $1.6 billion, an increase of 1,332 percent. Other markets to which Missouri more than tripled its merchandise exports from 2002 to 2006 were China, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and Belgium.
The state's leading export category is transportation equipment, which accounted for 39 percent, or $5.0 billion, of Missouri's exports in 2006. Other top export categories are chemical manufacturers ($1.9 billion of exports in 2006); machinery manufacturers ($1.1 billion); processed foods ($721 million); and electrical equipment, appliances and parts ($592 million).
In dollar terms, Missouri's leading export growth category is transportation equipment. Export shipments of these products during the 2002-2006 period grew from $2.3 billion to $5.0 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion.
