The St. Joseph area reached the $1 billion mark in exports in 2015. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker released a report on Sept. 8 highlighting goods exports from U.S. metropolitan areas for 2015. The International Trade Administration’s 2015 Metropolitan Area Export Overview indicates that goods exports from the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area reached a record $1 billion. St. Joseph’s goods exports increased by $95 million, or 10.2 percent, from 2014 to 2015, and is one of the 63 metro areas to achieve record export levels last year.
“Exports continue to be a source of growth for the St. Joseph economy” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “St. Joseph is one of 63 metropolitan areas across our nation that set a record for goods exports last year. The Department of Commerce continues to focus its services on assisting more St. Joseph-based firms sell their ‘Made in America’ products to global consumers, which will support additional growth and good-paying jobs.”
U.S. metropolitan area goods exports exceeded $1.3 trillion in 2015, and accounted for 89 percent of total U.S. goods exports last year.
“St. Joseph’s (MO/KS) manufacturing , agricultural and service industries have remained a steady example of the success that is possible through exports. Exporting-related activities have had a real impact on the local economy and we hope it continues into the future,” said Nyamusi Igambi, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Kansas City.
St. Joseph Metropolitan Area export highlights for 2015:
* One of 63 metro areas to achieve record goods export levels.
* Nearly 43 percent of goods exports went to markets where the United States has trade agreements in force.
* Key merchandise export categories included processed foods; agricultural products; and transportation equipment.
“This is certainly great news for the community,” said R. Patt Lilly, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “The continued growth in exports shows the strength of our local economy and demonstrates how St. Joseph businesses benefit from a growing global market. It is worth noting that the trade agreements currently being considered in Washington DC are important to continued growth of U.S. exports and the economic vitality this brings to communities like St. Joseph. Clearly thousands of local jobs are the result of these export sales.”
St. Joseph continues to rank third in the state in exports behind St. Louis and Kansas City.
