Minnesota Exports Declined in Second Quarter

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - Minnesota businesses experienced a drop in exports during the second quarter even though shipments to most of the state’s major international customers were higher than a year ago.

The State Department of Employment and Economic Development says the total value of the agricultural, mining and manufactured products exported from the state during the three-month period was about $5.2 billion. That’s down about 3.8-percent from the second quarter of last year. Nationwide, exports were down 5.6-percent.

Officials say Minnesota exports to Europe rose 5-percent from last year and exports to China were up 2-percent, but shipments to Canada fell 21-percent. Despite the big drop, Canada remained Minnesota’s largest international trading partner with $1.13 billion dollars in sales.

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