Well-positioned on the Atlantic side of America, the New England states offer plenty of advantages to companies wishing to export not only to Europe, but to new and established markets all over the globe.

What follows are key export data about these states, plus examples of recent export successes by companies partnering with the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) and/or its network of 100-plus U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEAC).

NEW YORK
In 2014, the state exported $86 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 389,957 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 40,293 companies exported from here.

Kionix, Inc. of Ithaca is a global manufacturer of accelerometers, gyroscopes and sensors sold worldwide and incorporated into goods such as PCs, tablets, phones and gaming components. The company’s management realized the growing importance of a formalized export compliance program due to its increased success in the global marketplace. The Buffalo USEAC office gave Kionix ongoing, targeted counseling on exporting to global markets and export regulations compliance. With newfound confidence in its compliance to ITAR, OFA and EAR, Kionix has expanded sales into Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China and Europe. As more than 90 percent of its business is generated by exports, overseas sales growth directly affects its ability to grow, hire and retain jobs.

New York’s merchandise exports of $14.3 billion to Canada in 2014 represented 16.6 percent of its total merchandise exports. Other major markets: Hong Kong ($10.8 billion), Switzerland ($9.1 billion), Israel ($6.4 billion) and the U.K. ($6.2 billion). The Miscellaneous Manufactures category accounted for $25.1 billion of the state’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

NEW JERSEY
In 2014, the state exported $36.8 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 165,695 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 20,711 companies exported from here.

Hoffman International is a dealer/distributor of heavy construction and lifting equipment, earthmoving equipment and spare parts. It first contacted the CS in the 1990s for help in developing overseas markets and has benefitted from extensive counseling, access to necessary trade finance programs, export seminars, etc. In 2013, Hoffman was awarded a $47 million major supply contract in the Republic of Cameroon, which sustained 65 jobs and created many additional employment opportunities at Hoffman. Now exports account for over half the firm’s annual sales and it projects 20 percent export growth over the next five years.

New Jersey’s merchandise exports of $6.9 billion to Canada in 2014 represented 18.8 percent of its total merchandise exports. Additional key markets: Mexico ($2.7 billion), the U.K. ($2.1 billion), the Netherlands ($2 billion) and Japan ($1.7 billion). The Chemicals category accounted for $8.6 billion of New Jersey’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

CONNECTICUT
In 2014, the state exported $15.9 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 75,292 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 5,728 companies exported from here.

Exports are central to the business plan of Amodex Products, Inc., accounting for nearly 10 percent of its annual revenue. The Bridgeport-based firm manufactures and sells a nontoxic soap formula for removing ink and other stains to industrial, commercial and consumer users. Since the mid-1990s Amodex has been expanding into European and Asian markets, and its myriad export destinations include Canada, the U.K., Italy, Spain and Malaysia, as well as Hong Kong and the Philippines.

President Beverlee Dacey says exports have been key to the company’s growth. She adds that the potential passage of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership would greatly facilitate Amodex’s efforts in expanding its products into Southeast Asia due to “the agreement’s focus on trademarks enforcement and lower tariffs.”

Connecticut’s merchandise exports of $2.2 billion to France in 2014 represented 13.9 percent of total merchandise exports. The next-largest export market was Canada ($1.9 billion), then Germany ($1.7 billion), Mexico ($1.3 billion) and United Arab Emirates ($1.1 billion). The Transportation Equipment category made up $7.3 billion of Connecticut’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

MAINE
In 2014, the state exported $2.8 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 17,120 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 2,264 companies exported from here.

Allagash International is a global source for industrial control valves, which it also services and repairs. The company’s highly respected line of globe valves is one of the only products of its kind completely “Made in America” (from casting to assembly). With help from the Small Business Association’s Export Express Loan Program, the firm aggressively expanded into foreign markets. This expansion activity resulted in Allagash becoming one of the largest suppliers of valves and controls to Latin America, and a major domestic supplier—all in a little more than a decade.

Maine’s merchandise exports of $1.5 billion to Canada in 2014 represented 54.4 percent of its total merchandise exports. Other major markets: China ($184 million), Malaysia ($105 million), Japan ($98 million) and the Netherlands ($64 million). Paper, as a category, accounted for $484 million of Maine’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

MASSACHUSETTS
In 2014, the state exported $27.4 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 124,016 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 10,709 companies exported from here.

Dimensional Insight of Burlington, a business intelligence software company, contacted the Boston USEAC office for help in entering the East China market. In January 2012, CS Boston and CS Shanghai met with Dimensional Insight. A short time later, the firm accepted CS Shanghai’s Platinum Key Service proposal which offered long-term, customized assistance on a range of issues in the Chinese market, including business matchmaking services, trade show information and much more. As a result of this assistance from both CS offices, Dimensional Insight signed three commercial agreements in 2013, and in 2014, it expanded into some East China secondary cities. The company currently exports to 37 nations and posts export revenue of about $9 million.

Merchandise exports of $3.6 billion from Massachusetts to Canada in 2014 represented 13.3 percent of total merchandise exports. Other top export markets: the U.K. ($2.3 billion), Mexico ($2.3 billion), China ($2.3 billion) and Japan ($1.9 billion). The Computer & Electronic Products category made up $8.2 billion of Massachusetts’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
In 2014, the state exported $4.4 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 20,048 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 2,625 companies exported from here.

Salem-based Corfin Industries makes specialized products used by the defense, medical and telecommunications industries among others. The firm reached out to the USEAC in New Hampshire when it needed to expand its global sales to new customers and partners in the aerospace/defense markets. As part of the assistance USEAC offered, Corfin participated in several foreign trade shows funded directly or in part by the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program. The company gained new customers in the U.K., France, Italy, Singapore, Germany, Japan and other markets.

New Hampshire’s merchandise exports of $783 million to Canada in 2014 represented 17.7 percent of its total merchandise exports. The next-largest markets were Mexico ($450 million), United Arab Emirates ($304 million), China ($299 million) and Germany ($229 million). The Computer & Electronic Products category accounted for $1.8 billion of New Hampshire’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

RHODE ISLAND
In 2014, the state exported $2.4 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 13,459 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 1,790 companies exported from here.

Bristol-based Resolute Racing Shells manufactures revolutionary, high-performance racing boat shells with an innovative hull design. In early 2014, the firm asked the CS office in Providence for help exporting to Japan after receiving inquiries about its product. It wanted assistance with inquiry follow-up and finding new customers—and, of course, overcoming the language barrier. The CS office recommended the company translate its brochures and then assisted with that task, and also made it possible for Resolute representatives to visit Japan in May 2014 during the All-Japan Light-Weight Rowing Championship in Tokyo. As a result, the firm gained a solid foothold in the Japanese market for its racing shells.
Rhode Island’s merchandise exports of $503 million to Canada in 2014 represented 21 percent of its total merchandise exports.

Other main export markets: Mexico ($196 million), Germany ($127 million), Turkey ($124 million) and China ($116 million). The Waste & Scrap category made up $593 million of Rhode Island’s total 2014 merchandise exports.

VERMONT
In 2014, the state exported $3.6 billion in merchandise and its exports supported 14,728 U.S. jobs; in 2013, 1,270 companies exported from here.

Exporting has been an important part of the diversified market portfolio of Liquid Measurement Systems (LMS), named one of Vermont’s “Best Places to Work” for four consecutive years. Established in 1989, the Georgia, Vermont-based company manufactures fuel-management and fuel-quantity gauging systems for aircrafts. Since 2002, LMS has used CS-sponsored programs to develop a world-class compliance system to sell into the defense and civil aerospace markets. The firm also has frequently used CS-sponsored global matchmaking programs in Europe and Canada to support its sales. In 2014, these efforts paid off when LMS won a contract worth more than $500,000 to do work for an important Tier 1 European supplier.

Vermont’s merchandise exports of $1.6 billion to Canada in 2014 represented 44.2 percent of its total merchandise exports. Its next-largest export market was Hong Kong ($333 million), followed by China ($275 million), Mexico ($213 million) and Malaysia ($197 million). The Computer & Electronic Products category accounted for $2.5 billion of Vermont’s total 2014 merchandise exports.