The state of Washington set   a new record for exports in 2013 with $81.9 billion in   products and services sold to international customers.

The most recent year was particularly good for Washington – an 8.4% increase   – but in the past five years the state has nearly tripled the national growth   rate. Since 1996, Washington’s exports grew 209% compared to 153% for the   nation.

Washington’s export growth is led by aerospace, with international sales that   last year totaled $43.6 billion, an 18% increase over 2012. Other top   Washington exports include fuel, industrial machinery, wheat, electric   machinery, medical instruments, and wood.

Also impressive is a spike in the number of Washington companies engaged in   exporting: 12,677 according to most recent U.S. Commerce data, up from 8,551   in the last survey.

Building on strong results from aerospace and increased agriculture commodity   prices, the Washington   State Department of Commerce has worked continuously over the   past several years to broaden the pipeline of companies selling Washington   products and services overseas. Success stories can be found in other key   industries including advanced manufacturing, global health and life sciences,   information and communications technology, clean energy and the maritime   sector.

“With at least one in three jobs in Washington related to international   trade, creating a culture of exporting is a key pillar of our economic   development agenda,” said Washington   State Department of Commerce Director Brian Bonlender.   “Companies from a variety of industry sectors have opportunities to reach new   customers in some of the fastest growing economies in the world. We have   increased focus on successful export assistance programs to help more   new-to-export small- and medium-sized businesses compete in the global   marketplace.”

For more information about export assistance available from the Washington   State Department of Commerce, visit here.    For more information on Washington’s international trade, view Commerce’s Trade Update –   Winter 2014.