North Carolina High-Tech Exports Total $3.3 Billion in 2007
Tech Exports Support 11,700 Jobs in North Carolina

Alpharetta, GA  (September 23, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its annual report detailing national and state trends in the international trade of high-tech goods. The report, Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

High-tech exports from North Carolina totaled $3.3 billion in 2007, down three percent from 2006. North Carolina ranked 9th in communications equipment exports at $607 million and 11th in electronic components exports at $418 million.

“The high-tech industry comprises 14 percent of North Carolina’s total exports, making it a critical industry for the state’s economy,” said Glen Whitley, Executive Director of AeA’s Southeast Council. “Exports from the tech industry supported approximately 11,700 jobs in 2007. It is important that policymakers in Raleigh continue to make the Tar Heel State a business friendly environment and leaders in Washington take the necessary steps to stimulate the expansion of trade and the opening of foreign markets.”

Nationally, Trade in the Cyberstates 2008 shows that U.S. high-tech goods exports decreased by three percent in 2007, totaling $214 billion, representing 18 percent of all U.S. exports to the world. High-tech imports totaled $333 billion in 2007, up by three percent, resulting in a high-tech trade deficit of $118 billion. High-tech exports supported 894,600 jobs in the United States.

Trade in the Cyberstates 2008 provides a comprehensive review of international trade of high-tech goods at the national and state-by-state level. The report provides overview pages for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These "snapshot" pages highlight historical high-tech export trends, exports by individual tech sector, and leading export destinations.

This report is a partner publication to AeA's other two annual cyber publications, Cyberstates and Cybercities, which provide data on high-tech jobs, wages, payroll, and other factors at the state and metropolitan levels.

AeA members can purchase each of these reports for $125; non-members for $250. Visit www.aeanet.org/research to purchase the reports.

What Does High-Tech Trade Mean for North Carolina?

• $3.3 billion in high-tech exports (17th ranked cyberstate)
   
•  Down $94 million in tech exports between 2006 and 2007
   
• 14 percent of exports from North Carolina are tech exports (24th ranked cyberstate)
   
• 11,700 jobs in North Carolina are supported by tech exports

North Carolina’s Leading Tech Export Destinations:

• $776 million in tech exports to Canada
   
• $401 million in tech exports to China
   
• $190 million in tech exports to the Mexico

North Carolina’s Leading Tech Export Sectors:

• 9th in communications equipment exports at $607 million
   
• 11th in electronic components exports at $418 million
   
• 14th in semiconductor exports at $635 million

Source: Trade in the Cyberstates 2008

Data are for 2007.

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

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About AeA

AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit http://www.aeanet.org.

This page was last updated on 09/19/08.  
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