For the third straight year, New Hampshire exports set a new record, topping $5.8 billion in 2019, up 10 percent from 2018, according to federal trade data.
“The latest export numbers show that New Hampshire has entered the global arena as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” said Gov. Chris Sununu. “With an educated workforce, access to regional markets, and a pro-business environment, the Granite State is the most desirous state in the nation for companies to locate themselves.”
Aircraft parts for civilian aircraft was the state’s top export in 2019 and Germany continued to be the state’s top trading partner, followed by Canada, Ireland, Mexico and Japan.
Aircraft and spacecraft parts rose 68 percent to $1.3 billion from 2018, overtaking industrial machinery as New Hampshire’s leading export, followed by electric machinery, pharmaceutical products, and optics.
“New Hampshire businesses recognize the importance of global markets, which we’ve seen reflected in record-setting trade statistics over the past three years,” said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “More than ever, we are committed to helping domestic and international businesses access new markets for their products.”
As part of New Hampshire’s pro-growth initiatives, Sununu established the nation’s first state-level United States-Mexico-Canada trade council to encourage further growth and improved trade relations with Canada and Mexico.
Caswell, chairman of the new state trade council, said the trade statistics demonstrate New Hampshire’s value for international supply chains.
“New Hampshire stands alone on the East Coast of North America as a low-tax, pro-growth location for domestic and international business market access into the U.S. or the East Coast, and we have every intention of aggressively growing the competitive advantage for our employers,” he said.
In addition, BEA’s Office of International Commerce is recruiting partner businesses at ILA Berlin, which highlights aviation, defense and security, and unmanned systems for companies interested in the European market May 13-17, 2020.
OIC works with state federal partners, including the US Commercial Service, to provide New Hampshire businesses export compliance training and other resources to expand into world markets. For more information, visit nheconomy.com/office-of-international-commerce.
Canada’s proximity to the Granite State makes it New Hampshire’s largest trading partner.
Canada is the largest single export market for the United States and highly receptive to U.S. goods and services. Proximity affords U.S. firms with a significant advantage to selling in this market.
Are you maximizing your opportunity? Whether you currently export to Canada or are new to exporting, the importance of developing a strategic approach to this market is critical to your success.
Sending Temporary Workers to Canada from the United States
Tuesday, April 10
1-2 pm (EST)
$25 (USD) Register here.
This webinar series, hosted by US Commercial Service, is designed to help businesses strengthen the skills necessary to do business effectively in Canada and is beneficial to U.S. companies, such as architects, engineers, technicians and installers. It will cover the process for temporary travel to Canada for after-sales warranty repairs; business development, and trade show participation.
Some of the questions that will be addressed include:
• What is Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker/International Mobility program?
• Do I need to have a work permit to do temporary work in Canada?
• Can temporary entry under NAFTA apply to my company?
• What documentation is required to send a temporary worker to Canada?
• Asking your own questions to the subject area expert.
The speaker will be Jacqueline Bonisteel, associate with Corporate Immigration Law Firm.
For more information, contact Tracey Ford, Commercial Specialist, +1 (613) 688-5406.
Implications of BREXIT for NH Exporters
The official date for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union is March 29, 2019 – a little more than one year from now. This is a major policy event that will have dramatic implications for New Hampshire exporters to Europe.
Negotiations with the EU as to the terms of the withdrawal are currently focused on the U.K.’s outstanding financial obligation to the EU; the post-Brexit status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic; and the status of UK/EU citizens living across the post-Brexit borders.
U.S. Commercial Service webinar on BREXIT updates
Thursday, March 22
Noon – 1:30 pm EST
$50
Register here.
The two sides are seeking to conclude agreement on these initial three areas in December 2017, which would pave the way for subsequent negotiations on the post-Brexit trade relationship between the UK and EU. The UK Government has reached an uneasy internal political consensus that a transition period of up to two years will be required after March 2019 to fully implement the exit from the EU – a time period most observers view as insufficient.
In addition to the ongoing Brexit negotiations, the U.S. and the United Kingdom held the second meeting of the U.S. – UK Trade and Investment Working Group in London on November 13-14, to continue discussions on ways to ensure commercial continuity and strengthen two-way trade ahead of Britain’s March 2019 exit from the European Union. The working group is also laying the groundwork for a potential post-Brexit bilateral U.S.-UK free trade agreement.
Webinar Presenters:
John Simmons, Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs CS London
U.S. Mission to the European Union, Commercial Specialists Liliana Popescu (Standards); Isabelle Roccia (Digital Economy); Matthew Kopetski (Chemicals); Antonio Dai-Pra (Healthcare), and NOAA Fisheries Representative Stephane Vrignaud.
Time is running out to sign up for the Export Boot Camp series! Registration closes Sept. 22; click here for more information.
The New Hampshire Office of International Commerce received at State Trade Expansion Program award this week that will further its efforts in helping businesses find global markets for their products and services.
The $267,866 grant will be used to encourage export growth in New Hampshire, which totaled about $4.1 billion in 2016 and supports over 18,000 jobs here. The majority – 87 percent – of the more than 2,700 companies that export are small-to-medium-sized enterprises with less than 500 employees, according to the latest statistics.
“This STEP award continues to highlight New Hampshire’s dedication to small business,” said Commissioner Taylor Caswell, of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. “Over the years, this funding has provided opportunities for our small businesses to find global markets and we’ve continued to see that the world is very interested in what our companies have to offer. This grant represents the great efforts of our Office of International Commerce and the New Hampshire offices of the SBA and US Commercial Service.”
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New Hampshire was one of 44 states receiving some of the $18 million set aside for STEP and the amount received represents a 25 percent increase over last year.
“We are happy to continue our partnership with the State of New Hampshire and the Office of International Commerce and commend them for their creative and impactful use of this program to promote greater exporting opportunities for small companies throughout the state,” Greta Johansson, district director of the state’s SBA office.
STEP is designed to increase both the number of small businesses that begin to export and the value of exports for small businesses currently exporting. Expanding the base of small business exporters and making the process as easy as possible is a key component of the SBA’s small business strategy.
The recent article exploring New Hampshire’s exports, while interesting, drew conclusions that diminishes our role in a record-setting year for US exports.
In 2013, the United States set an all-time record – $2.3 trillion – for the value of goods exported around the world. New Hampshire was a part of that success, with strategic growth in some of our higher paying sectors, such as electronics, optics and military/defense components.
The US Department of Commerce uses a complex methodology to measure exports and their growth – methodology that has been in place for decades and which determines the value of each state’s activity in the global marketplace. The data provided is the accepted measure of exports by state and federal agencies, as well as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.
By using the Origin of Movement (OM) series, the Department of Commerce determines the breakdown of over $2 trillion in exports. The OM can be the location of where the item was produced or the location of a distributor, warehouse or cargo processing facility. New Hampshire export statistics credit the movement of oil into the state, just as another state receives credit for millions of dollars’ worth of components produced in New Hampshire.
The results can, indeed, be curious; such as how much oil the Granite State is credited with exporting or how much gold leaves Massachusetts or how many diamonds from New York. It is important to recognize that New Hampshire is by no means the only state that exports goods not usually associated with its leading industries.
OM is not a perfect system, largely because it was never designed to measure production. But it is the accepted way to calculate the worth of the nation’s exports. Under the definitions and regulations in place, oil is a New Hampshire export.
It is also important to note that there is more to exporting than the merchandise goods the OM series covers. Services, like consulting and financial services, as well as tourism and education, two important sectors in our economy, are considered exports, but they are not calculated in data compiled by the federal agency.
Exporting is a vital part of the state’s economy and every year, more of our companies are tapping into markets around the world with great success. Our record makes our state attractive to foreign investors, companies looking to expand in the US and international students seeking a quality education.
To simply extract the value of oil that flows through New Hampshire and proclaim the total to be credible data is overly simplistic and gives no credit to thousands of companies in New Hampshire contributing to the nation’s exporting success.
Jeffrey Rose
Commissioner
NH Department of Resources and Economic Development
W.S. Badger Co., in Gilsum, NH, worked with the Office of International Commerce to research potential export markets.
Like many small business owners, Kathleen Johnson juggles everything from overseeing the manufacturing process to marketing her product, Lickity Bits.
Located up in the North Country town of Columbia, it caters to owners of horses by encouraging horses to accept bits. She has a niche product, but knows that she could grow … well … unbridled … especially outside the U.S.
“As a small business owner, it is a daunting task trying to navigate through international markets that may be available,” Kathleen said.
That’s where the Office of International Commerce stepped in and provided her with comprehensive information about a possible export market.
“We learned that Brazil is a potentially key market for us, since it has the third highest horse market worldwide and prospering economy,” she said.
The OIC received a grant from the Eastern Trade Council to provide market research about the Brazilian market to her and several other businesses.
Why Brazil? The South American country has the seventh largest economy in the world, which is weathering the global economic challenges better than other parts of the globe. With a diversified economy and an expected surge in infrastructure improvements from now until the 2016 Summer Olympics being held there, U.S.exports are increasing rapidly.
“In a very competitive market, (the research) located one company interested in receiving information from WMI,” said Frank Morabito, the company’s international sales product manager.
Out in the Monadnock region, W.S. Badger Co. makes organic body care products, employing about 40 people at its new Gilsum plant. No stranger to the OIC, it has worked several times with the staff, most recently to help find a distribution partner in Russia.
“This service proved itself very valuable, as it allowed us to enter the market with a company that is screened and trusted,” said Stephanie Ritchie, Badger’s international accounts manager. “Our sales have grown slowly, but steadily, and we look forward to continuing to expand our business inRussia.”
If your company is considering exporting, you may be eligible for a grant that will pay for market research. The funds are part of the State Trade Export Promotion grant, which will, for qualifying businesses, provide these services at no cost. Available through the U.S. Commercial Service, the research usually costs between $500 and $750.
Orders for the services must be placed by mid-September. For more information, contact Kasim at 603-271-8444 or email Tina.Kasim@dred.state.nh.us.
