Exports to China grow in importance for state

The ships that arrive from China in American ports, heavily laden with merchandise for U.S. stores, aren't going home empty.

A new study by the Nevada Commission on Economic Development finds that the state's exports to China have grown a whopping 629 percent since 2000.

In fact, China now ranks as the third-largest foreign trade partner for Nevada, trailing only Switzerland the buyer of much of the state's gold production and Canada.

"Nevada companies continue to make impressive strides in their exports particularly in Asia," said Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, the chair of the Commission on Economic Development. He called the growth of exports to China "truly striking."

China accounted for $351.7 million in exports from Nevada during 2007, a 73 percent increase over year-earlier figures. As recently as 2005, the state's exports to China totaled only $137.4 million.

Despite that growth, Switzerland continues to dominate export trade with Nevada.

Its $2.6 billion in purchases from Nevada companies accounted for nearly 46 percent of the state's entire foreign trade. Gold accounts for more than 98 percent of those exports. And every bit of gold that Nevada companies sold into international markets during 2007 went to vaults in Switzerland.

The state's export trade last year totaled $5.7 billion, up 4 percent from year-earlier figures. Once gold and other precious metals are backed out of the totals, the state's export business rose by 12.1 percent, about the same as the overall growth in exports by U.S. companies.

Nevada ranks 34th among the states in the value of its exports in 2007.

After Switzerland, Canada and China, the next seven largest trading partners with Nevada are Japan, Mexico, Israel, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and The Netherlands.

Growth was particularly strong in exports to the United Kingdom, which rose 33.4 percent in 2007 over 2006, said the Commission on Economic Development.

Those top 10 markets account for 82 percent of Nevada's exports.

The smallest market for Nevada exports the Atlantic island nation of Sao Tome and Principe bought $2,800 worth of merchandise from the state last year.

Along with gold and precious minerals, other big export categories for the state include ores notably, copper from the mines of eastern Nevada as well as electric machinery, toys and sports equipment, industrial machinery and aircraft parts.

Agricultural exports rose to $55.2 million in 2007, a 57.8 percent increase over 2006 figures.

Krolicki said development of export markets remains a priority for the Commission on Economic Development.