IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

“This is great news for South Carolina. We will continue to work on improving and modernizing our ports system, which plays a key role in bringing companies from around the globe to our great state,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

“South Carolina reclaimed its lead as the No. 1 exporter of vehicles in 2011, outranking Michigan, and became the top exporter in the nation of tires, officials said Tuesday… Automobile exports from South Carolina jumped 52 percent in 2011, surpassing Michigan for the No. 1 spot among automobile exporters. South Carolina previously ranked first in auto exports in 2009, based on the export of BMW automobiles from the German automaker’s Upstate manufacturing plant. The state also ranked first among U.S. states in tire exports, holding nearly 30 percent of the share of U.S.-made exported tires. Michelin and Bridgestone have been stalwart manufacturers in the state for years and soon Continental will build a new plant in Sumter County.” (Jeff Wilkinson, The State, “SC exported most autos, tires in the nation in 2011,” 2/29/2012)

“Chrysler had a Superbowl ad about the recovery of the Detroit auto industry, but South Carolina was the nation’s top car exporter in 2011. The Palmetto State was also the top exporter of tires, trade statistics show, and auto and tire manufacturing are set for more gains this year…’That’s good news, because these are good jobs,’ said Douglas Woodward, director of the Division of Research and professor of economics at the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. ‘I think the real story is the growth, which was higher than I would have expected.’” (David Slade, The Post and Courier, South Carolina becoming an export star, 2/29/2012)

“The value of South Carolina’s exports continues to rise. Gov. Nikki Haley, the state Commerce Department and the State Ports Authority said Tuesday that the state sold nearly $25 billion in goods to 198 countries around the world last year. That value is up 21 percent from the previous year and ranked South Carolina 14th in the country.” (Associated Press, SC exports up more than 21 percent in 2011, 2/29/2012)

“Two Upstate manufacturing staples — vehicles and tires — helped drive South Carolina’s exports to a 21.4 percent increase in 2011… South Carolina’s export growth rate ranked it 14th in the nation, according to S.C. commerce. The state’s top 10 export industries were vehicles, machinery, rubber, electrical machinery, plastics, paper products, organic chemicals, optics and medical equipment, wood pulp and cotton yarn and fabric.” (Trevor Anderson, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, “BMW, Michelin drive increase in SC exports,” 2/29/2012)