Alabama Exports Up
- August 7th, 2019
Alabama Exports Up
First Quarter 2000
| During the first quarter of 2000, Alabama exports rose nearly 13.5 percent over the same period in 1999. Most of these were exports to Canada, Mexico, and Austria, with increases of 18.8, 19.4, and 763.9 percent respectively. Transportation equipment, chemical products, paper products, industrial and electrical machinery, and electronics accounted for almost 60 percent of total exports during the first quarter of 2000.
Alabama’s export statistics for 1999 could have been much lower if not for a 437.2 percent increase in exports to Austria. Since 1998, when Mercedes-Benz decided to assemble the M-class vehicle at their plant in Graz, Austria as well as at the Vance, Alabama plant, there has been a phenomenal increase in exports from Alabama to Austria. |
From 1997 to 1998, Alabama exports to Austria increased from $3.8 million to $51 million, an increase of 1243.38 percent. Between 1998 and 1999, these exports increased another 437.16 percent, reaching $273.8 million. As of 1999, Mercedes-Benz is now the state’s largest exporter, sending almost $700 million in vehicles to 135 countries around the world.Another of Alabama’s largest and most consistent trading partners has been Mexico. Like many states, Alabama saw a significant increase in trade with Mexico immediately after the implementation of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). That country quickly became Alabama’s third largest exports market, growing by nearly 500 percent in just 3 years. By 1997 exports had risen to over $1 billion. Since then, exports to Mexico have declined to about half that amount. Despite this drop, Mexico is expected to be the state’s second largest export market after Canada in 2000. Japan will drop out of second place due to that country’s recession-type economic environment.
Ahmad Ijaz |
Table 1
Total Value of Alabama Exports by Top Ten Countries of Destination
(Millions of Dollars)
| Country | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Percent Change 1997 to 1998 |
Percent Change 1998 to 1999 |
| Canada | $1,463.2 | $1,607.6 | $1,688.3 | 9.9 | 5.0 |
| Japan | 683.0 | 703.8 | 684.9 | 3.1 | -2.7 |
| Mexico | 1,012.5 | 622.9 | 550.7 | -38.5 | -12.0 |
| Germany | 183.2 | 524.7 | 503.0 | 186.3 | -4.2 |
| United Kingdom | 396.9 | 357.2 | 387.8 | -1 | 9.0 |
| Austria | 3.8 | 51.0 | 273.8 | 1243.8 | 437.2 |
| Netherlands | 275.9 | 286.2 | 264.2 | -2.8 | -1.5 |
| France | 163.3 | 282.2 | 261.3 | 72.6 | -7.4 |
| Korea, Republic of | 257.9 | 90.0 | 152.8 | -65.1 | 70.0 |
| China (Taiwan) | 82.9 | 54.7 | 138.8 | -34.0 | 153.9 |
| Total for All Countries | $6,702.4 | $7,036.5 | $6,851.5 | 5.0 | -2.6 |
Sources: Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER)
and State of Alabama Foreign Trade Relations Commission.
Table 2
Total Value of Alabama Exports by Top Five Industry Sectors
(Millions of Dollars)
| Industry | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Percent Change 1997 to 1998 |
Percent Change 1998 to 1999 |
| Transportation Equipment | $1,463.2 | $1,607.6 | $1,688.3 | 261.6 | 14.9 |
| Chemicals and Allied Products | 683.0 | 703.8 | 684.9 | 8.7 | -5.7 |
| Paper and Allied Products | 1,012.5 | 622.9 | 550.7 | -13.7 | -13.0 |
| Industrial Machinery and Computer Equipment |
183.2 | 524.7 | 503.0 | -13.4 | -4.1 |
| Electronic and Electrical Equipment |
396.9 | 357.2 | 387.8 | -51.3 | -19.7 |
| Total for All Industries | 6,702.4 | $7,036.5 | $6,851.5 | 5.0 | -2.6 |
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Sources: Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER) and State of Alabama Foreign Trade Relations Commission. |
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Table 3
Total Value of Alabama Exports by Top Five Industry Sectors and Top Five Countries
Millions of Dollars, First Quarter 1999 to First Quarter 2000
| Country | Quarter 1 1999 |
Quarter 1 2000 |
Percent Change 99Q1 to 00Q1 |
| Canada | $ 418.8 | $ 497.5 | 18.8 |
| Japan | 185.2 | 181.6 | -2.0 |
| Mexico | 139.2 | 166.1 | 19.4 |
| Austria | 15.3 | 132.7 | 763.9 |
| United Kingdom | 103.0 | 87.7 | -14.9 |
| Total for All Countries | $1,674.5 | $1,899.9 | 13.5 |
| Industry | |||
| Transportation Equipment | $ 379.6 | $ 348.4 | -8.2 |
| Chemicals and Allied Products | 223.3 | 278.0 | 24.5 |
| Paper and Allied Products | 141.1 | 188.9 | 33.9 |
| Industrial Machinery and Computer Equipment |
150.7 | 187.3 | 24.2 |
| Electronic and Electrical Equipment |
106.9 | 148.5 | 38.8 |
| Total for All Industries | $1,674.5 | $1,899.9 | 13.5 |
| Sources: Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER) and State of Alabama Foreign Trade Relations Commission. |
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