Tech Exports from Texas Total 35.9 Billion in 2007
Texas Ranks 1st Nationwide in Communications Equipment and Electronic Components Exports

Dallas, TX  (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.

Texas has firmly established itself as the nation's second largest tech exporting state with $35.9 billion in technology exports in 2007. However, tech exports were down by $2.7 billion from 2006. This was largely attributable to a drop in exports of semiconductors and computers and peripheral equipment, which are the state’s two largest tech export sectors. Texas ranked first nationwide in exports of communications equipment ($8.8 billion) and electronic components ($3.5 billion), and second in exports of semiconductors ($8.7 billion).

"Texas is the 2nd largest exporter of high-tech goods, but given that we saw a decline in 2007, we need to work harder to maintain Texas as a high-tech hub," said Clare Freeman, Executive Director of AeA’s Texas Council. "Tech exports support 183, 900 Lone Star jobs. Texas would greatly benefit from passage of the free trade agreement with South Korea, the state’s third largest export destination. The agreement, which has been concluded but not yet passed or signed into law, would lower tariffs on U.S. goods entering the South Korean market."

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 Texas?

• $36 billion in high-tech exports (2nd ranked cyberstate)
   
• Down $2.7 billion in tech exports between 2006 and 2007
   
• 21 percent of exports from Texas are tech exports (16th ranked cyberstate)
   
• 183,900 jobs in Texas are supported by tech exports

Texas’s Leading Tech Export Destinations:

• $13.0 billion in tech exports to Mexico
   
• $3.5 billion in tech exports to Canada
   
• $1.9 billion in tech exports to South Korea

Texas’s Leading Tech Export Sectors:

• 1st in communications equipment exports at $8.8 billion
   
• 1st in electronic components at $3.5 billion
   
• 2nd in semiconductor exports at $8.7 billion

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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