Other than COVID, the most frequent item in the news last year may have been “supply chain.” Ships backed up from the Port of Savannah well off into the Atlantic. Cars, microchips and lumber were among many products over the last year that have been hard to find or are snapped up as soon as they become available. Despite all those supply chain issues, it does not seem to have impacted Georgia’s international trade very much in 2021.
On Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that the state had a record-breaking year for international trade, totaling more than $166 billion across 223 countries and territories – nearly every country or territory in the world, including a record for exports of more than $42 billion.
“Being ranked seventh in total trade value is no small feat, and I applaud our state’s trade team and Georgia businesses for these results,” said Governor Kemp. “With more than 85 percent of our state’s exporters categorized as small businesses, Georgia’s global trade success story once again shows their resiliency, tenacity, and the reason they are considered the backbone of our economy. You can make anything, anywhere in Georgia, and reach markets around the world. I’m especially proud to see that manufacturing and agricultural exports come from every single county in the Peach State.”
To no real surprise, the state’s top five trading partners were China, Mexico, Canada, Germany and Korea. India and Vietnam experienced the most growth last year. Motor vehicles, civilian aircraft and gas turbine parts were the top traded products – not the most in volume by any means but costly, specialty items certainly help to boost that bottom line. Aerospace alone totals more than $9 billion, making it Georgia number one export industry. Georgia is also the third largest exporter of agriculture and forestry products at nearly $5 billion – a reminder of the centrality still of agriculture to the rapidly suburbanizing Georgia economy.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remains a huge boon for the Georgia economy, handling not just the most passengers of any airport in the U.S. but also 625,000 metric tons of cargo each year. The ports processed much of those goods, passing through more than $150 billion in goods last year, and supporting nearly 500,000 jobs.
“The 2021 Trade Report confirms that global demand for Georgia’s goods has returned to pre-pandemic levels,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Thanks to our International Trade team, international representatives, and our economic development partners across the state for their dedicated work not only to help Georgia businesses reach their goals, but to maintain our status as a leader in the global marketplace.”
To read the full annual trade report: https://www.georgia.org/international/trade/annual-trade-report
