Seattle is the closest seaport in the United States to both Asia and Alaska. Its location makes the city a prime gateway for shipping, cruise passengers and tourists. In addition to Asia, many other countries are found among the list of Seattle’s top twenty trade partners. Washington State Washington has consistently ranked in the top five states in exports during the last decade, and in 2007 ranked fourth in total exports behind Texas, California, and New York.
The total value of the state’s exports totaled approximately $66 billion in 2007 and $54 billion in 2006. Nearly three-quarters of the state’s exports are from the central Puget Sound region.
About 70% of the port’s containerized cargo originates in or destined for regions or country outside the Pacific Northwest. Thus, while the state represents 2% of the nation’s population, its ports handle 7% of all U.S. exports and receive a 6% share of the nation’s imports. Furthermore, international trade creates many different job opportunities for Puget Sound’s residents.
Approximately one out of three jobs in our local economy is related to international trade.
| |
Top 10 Trading Partners
|
Country
|
US $$$ (billions)
|
Country
|
US $$$ (billions)
|
| All Countries |
$66 billion |
|
|
| 1. China |
$9.9 |
6.Singapore |
$2.5 |
| 2. Canada |
$9.1 |
7. India |
$2.3 |
| 3. Japan |
$8.9 |
8. China |
$2.2 |
| 4. United Arab Emirates |
$3.48 |
9. Ireland |
$2.1 |
| 5. Korea |
$3.38 |
10. Netherland |
$1.8 |
|
|
Seattle is the sister city to 21 other cities around
the world - which makes it the second largest
sister city program in the United States.
|
|
| |
Top 10 Exports by Industry Sector
| Industry |
US Dollars (in billions) |
|
1. Aircraft, Spacecraft and Parts
|
$33.7
|
|
2. Cereals
|
$5.4
|
|
3. Oil Seeds, etc., Misc. Grain, Seed Fruit
|
$4.9
|
|
4. Industrial Machinary, incl. computers
|
$2.7
|
|
5. Mineral, Fuel and Oil
|
$2.6
|
|
6. Electric Machinery
|
$1.8
|
|
7. Optic, Photo, Medic or Surgical
|
$1.6
|
|
8. Wood and Articles of Wood
|
$0.98
|
|
9. Iron and Steel
|
$0.97
|
|
10. Inorganic Chemicals
|
$0.96
|
|
All Industries
|
$66.8
|
|
Seattle’s Sister Cities
| Kobe, Japan (1957) |
Reykjavik, Iceland (1986) |
| Bergen, Norway (1967) |
Daejon, Korea (1989) |
|
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1973)
|
Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1991)
|
| Beer Sheva, Israel (1973) |
Pecs, Hungary (1991) |
| Mazatlan, Mexico (1979) |
Cebu, Philippines (1991) |
| Nantes, France (1980) |
Perugia, Italy (1991) |
| Christchurch, New Zealand (1981) |
Surabaya, Indonesia (1992) |
| Mombasa, Kenya (1981) |
Gdynia, Poland (1993) |
| Chongqing, China (1983) |
Haiphong, Vietnam (1996) |
|
Limbe, Cameroon (1984)
|
Sihanoukville, Cambodia (1999) |
|
Galway, Ireland (1986)
|
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For more information, contact:
Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle
Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development - International Trade Division
Port of Seattle
International Trade Fact Sheet (PDF printable format)
