Alaska exports.

• Author: Slaten, Russ
• Position: INSIDE ALASKA BUSINESS

Governor Bill Walker announced in March that Alaska exported more than $5.15 billion of goods in 2014--the second highest year ever for Alaska exports and a 13.8 percent increase over the previous year. Nationally, exports rose 2.8 percent in 2014.

Two countries topped Alaska's list of export markets at a billion dollars or more each--China and Japan. Exports to China were $1.46 billion, up 18.3 percent, due to strong increases in mineral ores and seafood. Exports to China included $783.5 million in seafood, $480.4 million in mineral ores, $90.0 million in forest products, and $53.9 million in fish meal. Exports to Japan were $1.02 billion, up 48.8 percent due to the 2014 restart of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from Cook Inlet and stronger export of seafood and mineral ores. Exports to Japan included $525.6 million in seafood, $239.5 million in mineral ores, and $221.9 million in LNG.

Alaska's seafood exports increased 2.1...