Led by strong gains to Asia and Europe, British Columbia's exports for the first half of 2011 are up by nearly 14 per cent compared with first six months of 2010.

Figures released by Statistics Canada show that B.C.'s international merchandise exports from January to June were worth $15.9 billion, compared with $14 billion last year.

Solid growth is being recorded in exports of forestry products, industrial goods and energy products, along with gains in agricultural and fishing products, machinery and equipment and automotive products.

British Columbia's domestic-exports to Asia over the first half of 2011 are worth $6.9 billion, surpassing the $6.8 worth of goods shipped to the United States.

Healthy year-to-date increases in exports have also been recorded to the European Union, up by 27 per cent to reach $1.2 billion, and to South America, up by 44 per cent and worth $454 million.

During June, B.C.-origin exports were worth $2.98 billion, an increase of 11 per cent over what was exported in June 2010.

For the second month in a row, the value B.C. exports of softwood lumber to China surpassed the value shipped to the United States. In June, $130 million worth of softwood lumber was shipped to China compared with $125 million that was sold to the U.S.

Nationally, Canada's exports over the first half of 2011 reached $201.1 billion, an increase of almost 10 per cent compared with the pace set in 2010.

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ben James
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-8177

BACKGROUNDER

Facts about B.C. exports

Year-to-Date (Jan. to June) B.C.-origin exports of:

* Agricultural and fishing products - $1.07 billion, up by two per cent

* Energy products - $4.6 billion, up by 17 per cent

* Forestry products - $4.8 billion, up by 13 per cent

o Softwood lumber - $1.9 billion, up by nine per cent

* Industrial goods - $3.4 billion, up by 20 per cent

* Machinery and equipment - $1.6 billion, up by eight per cent

* Automotive products - $137 million, up by two per cent

* Consumer goods - $267 million, down by four per cent

* Special transactions trade - $122 million, down by one per cent

Year-to-Date (Jan. to June) B.C.-origin exports to:

* United States - $6.8 billion, up by 0.1 per cent

* China (including Hong Kong) - $2.6 billion, up by 49 per cent

* Japan - $2.3 billion up by 11 per cent

* South Korea - $1.2 billion, up by 35 per cent

* Taiwan - $343 million, up by 40 per cent

* India - $73 million, down by 22 per cent

* Brazil - $312 million, up by 44 per cent

* European Union - $1.2 billion, up by 27 per cent

* Mexico - $72 million, up/down by 32 per cent

* Australia - $121 million, up by 12 per cent

Learn More:

Statistics Canada - International Merchandise Trade Report: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/65-001-x/65-001-x2011006-eng.pdf

Statistics Canada - International Merchandise Trade Database: http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=Eng&CIMT_Action=Sections&ResultTemplate=CII_CIMT5

BC Stats - Monthly export data tables: http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/pubs/exp/expdata.pdf

Contact:

Ben James
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-8177