Contacts:
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Wisconsin exports continued to show strong gains through the third quarter of 2005. The nine month total of $11 billion represents an increase of 17.6 percent over the same period in 2004. For the third quarter, U.S. exports grew by 10.6 percent.
“Wisconsin’s export rate has shown three quarters of incredibly strong growth, and continues to surpass that of the nation,” Governor Doyle said. “As Governor, I’m determined to build on this success and help our businesses continue to reach new markets.”
Wisconsin ranked 18th in the nation in export volume for the first half of 2005, up from 20th over the same period in 2004. Through the third quarter, exports to Canada, Wisconsin’s largest export market, grew by 7.54 percent to $3.9 billion. Exports to Mexico, Wisconsin’s second largest export market, were up by 29.6 percent to $977.9 million. Japan ranked third in purchases from Wisconsin with an 11.8-percent increase to $501.4 million. China was fourth with a 10.3-percent increase to $488.5 million, and the United Kingdom ranked fifth with a 27.6-percent increase to $487.1 million.
Through the third quarter, industrial machinery, including computer equipment, continued to be Wisconsin’s top export commodity, growing by 17.1 percent to $3.8 billion. Medical instruments ranked second again with an increase of 20.7 percent to $1.2 billion. Electrical machinery ranked third with a 44.8-percent increase to $915.0 million. Transportation equipment ranked fourth with a 6.6-percent decline to $774.0 million. Paper and paperboard was the state’s fifth largest export with an 18.5-percent increase to $495.9 million.
Last month, Governor Doyle led a trade mission to Poland and the Czech Republic. For the third quarter, exports to Poland increased by 118.4 percent to $26.7 million and to the Czech Republic by 60.4 percent to $30 million. Governor Doyle also led delegations of Wisconsin businesses and government leaders to Mexico in 2005 and to China and Japan in 2004.
