Minnesota exports of agricultural, mining and manufactured products reached $5.13 billion in 2012's last quarter, the ninth consecutive quarterly record.
Today's report from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says exports rose 0.6 percent from the record fourth quarter of a year ago.
Gains showed up for exports to North America (up 6 percent), the European Union (up 6 percent) and Latin America (up 19 percent), but losses came in exports to Asia, down 11 percent.
DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben said in a statement:
"Minnesota's small and mid-sized companies are seizing the opportunity to sell their high-quality products and services in the global marketplace and are thus increasing jobs here in Minnesota."
According to the report, the state's largest export categories are:
- Machinery: $928 million, down 6.2 percent from the same period a year ago
- Optic, medical: $736 million, up 4.3 percent
- Electrical machinery: $677 million, down 4 percent
- Vehicles: $514 million, up 14 percent
- Plastics: $223 million, down 14.1 percent
- Mineral fuel, oil: $160 million, up 33.4 percent
- Food waste: $149 million, up 17.8 percent
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $137 million, up 11.8 percent
- Ores, slag, ash: $122 million, up 11 percent
- Iron/steel products: $101 million, up 9.3 percent.