CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn has made a habit of bragging that Illinois increased exports last year by 30 percent. He cites it when questioned about a tide of business complaints about the state's economic climate. The real figure is slightly lower, but there's no doubt 2011 was a good year for the state's exports.
Adam Pollet heads Quinn's trade office. He says overseas trade offices and other Quinn-backed moves deserve part of the credit. But economists say Quinn can't take much credit himself for it. Economics professor Fred Giertz of the University of Illinois says there really isn't much any politician can do to create that kind of growth. He also suspects the figure may be an anomaly, given Illinois' high unemployment rate.
Top Illinois Exports for 2011
By category, in billions of dollars
Category / 2011 / 2010
1. Machinery / $17.79 / $12.49
2. Chemicals / $8.50 / $6.48
3. Transportation equipment / $6.67 / $5.33
4. Computer and electronic products / $6.07 / $5.49
5. Electrical equipment, appliances and components / $3.113 /$2.64
6. Petroleum and coal / $3.10 / $1.02
7. Fabricated metal products / $2.85 / $2.25
8. Food and Kindred Products / $2.71 / $2.64
9. Agricultural products / $2.62 / $1.45
10. Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities / $2.30 / $2.23
Midwest Export Increases by State for 2011
In billions of dollars
State / 2011 / 2010 / Percentage increase
Illinois / $64.57 / $50.06 / 28.9 percent
Iowa / $13.28 / $10.88 / 22.1
Michigan / $50.80 / $44.77 / 13.5
Indiana / $32.20 / $28.75 / 12
Ohio / $46.41 / $41.49 / 11.9
Wisconsin / $22.05 / $19.79 / 11.4
Missouri / $14.15 / $12.93 / 9.4
Minnesota / $20.28 / $18.90 / 7.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau full story
