Export Leader

New national report says Santa Fe among leading cities with growth in outgoing goods

Think our economy is floundering? Here's a nugget to add to your perspective: Santa Fe ranks as the No. 5 metropolitan area in the nation for export growth, according to a new report released by the US Department of Commerce.

Two other New Mexico cities also top the list, Las Cruces at No. 1 and Farmington at No. 2.

Gov. Susana Martinez issued a statement Friday celebrating the report.

"I've always said that if we provide an environment that is friendly to job creators, we can level the playing field with neighboring states and become a leader in exports. Today's news is yet another testament to our efforts to diversify the economy and grow the private-sector," the governor says in the press release. "For the first time ever, more New Mexico businesses are exporting more goods to more places than ever before. There's still work to do, and we're going to continue to do everything we can to position New Mexico as the leader in international commerce and trade."

New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Jon Barela says in the release that the state's exports are growing because of tax policy changes and the development of relationships with leaders in other countries, including along the US-Mexico border.

Santa Fe's exports grew by 102.3 percent in the last year, totaling $38 million, with more than 23 percent of those exports heading to markets in Asia, the European Union and other nations that have trade agreements with the US. Key goods included transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, machinery, chemicals, and electrical equipment, appliances, and components.

Yet those figures could also be somewhat misleading.

Simon Brackley, CEO of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, said he wasn't certain which businesses were responsible for the uptick.

"We have very limited manufacturing in Santa Fe," Brackley says, "so a relatively small volume increase could account for a significant percentage increase in exports."

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