Minn. exports grow to $5B
by Annie Baxter, Minnesota Public RadioST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota exports grew to nearly $5 billion in the first three months of the year, a 2 percent increase from the same period a year earlier.
However, Minnesota's over-the-year export growth lagged the nation's, which rose 9 percent over the same timeframe.
Sales of machinery led Minnesota's export growth, driven by computer components.
Mexico and South Korea were among the state's leading growth markets.
Despite Europe's rolling debt crises, sales of Minnesota products to the European Union also grew over the year, notwithstanding declining sales to Germany and the Netherlands.
Annie Baxter
• ReporterAnnie Baxter started her radio trajectory answering the phones at a pledge drive at KQED, San Francisco's NPR member station, and managed to wriggle her way into an internship soon thereafter.
