Washington clocked in $81.6 billion in exports in 2013, compared with $75.7 billion in 2012.
The nearly 8 percent gain is healthy, but less than the 16.8 percent gain shown from 2011 to 2012. In addition to distortions such as big aeroplane orders in one year, state and national exports are facing a slowdown in Asia, particularly in China.
China remained Washington’s largest export destination in 2013, followed by Canada, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and South Korea.
Exports to China rose 17.6 percent, to $16.7 billion, even with the country’s heavy debt, slower growth and Beijing’s efforts to make the transition to a consumer economy. But from 2011 to 2012, the increase was nearly 27 percent. Canada represented nearly 9 billion, up by 7 percent. But exports to Japan fell 22 percent to around $7. billion.
Transportation equipment (i.e. aeroplanes and parts) made up 54 percent of the state’s exports last year, followed by agricultural products (12.7 percent), petroleum and coal products (5.8 percent) and computer and electronic products (4.5 percent).