CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin today announced West Virginia exports increased 37 percent from 2003 to 2004, outpacing the U.S. export growth rate of 13 percent during the same period.

“West Virginia’s high-quality products continue to impress our corporate and consumer partners across the globe,” the governor said. “The outstanding collaboration among our state’s workforce, businesses and entrepreneurs has produced spectacular results. We look forward to building on this success through our enhanced business initiatives.”

Electrical machinery experienced the greatest increase, jumping from $23.4 million in exports in 2003 to $325.7 million in 2004, a 1,288 percent change.

Vehicle parts came in at No. 2, increasing from $118.8 million in 2003 to $352.6 in 2004, a 197 percent change. Coal was third going from $260 million in 2003 to $406 million in 2004, a 56 percent increase.

Rounding out the top 10 were plastic, the state’s top export at $881.6 million; organic chemicals at $262.4 million; machinery at $214 million; hardwood products at $117 million; medical instruments at $98.7 million; aluminum at $97.5 million, and miscellaneous chemical products at $87.4 million.

West Virginia’s top three trading partners are Canada, Mexico and Japan. Exports to Mexico showed the most dramatic increase, from $80.5 million in 2003 to $435.5 million in 2004, a 440 percent change. The next largest trading partners include Belgium, Netherlands, Brazil, China, the Korean Republic, Hong Kong and Italy.

The West Virginia Development Office sponsors annual international trade shows and trade missions to key markets and promotes trade in Europe and Asia through offices in Germany and Japan.

“West Virginia’s existing companies gain tremendous opportunities for growth through exporting,” said Steve Spence, executive director of WVDO. “Our export promotion services are available to any state business with export potential.”

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