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“A Phenomenal 17.4 Percent Higher Than a Year Ago,” Says Vargo

 Washington, D.C., August 12, 2008 – The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said the Commerce Department’s trade numbers released today show that U.S. exports of manufactured goods are accelerating their torrid growth pace and are among the strongest parts of the trade picture.

 “June manufactured goods exports were a phenomenal 17.4 percent higher than a year ago,” said NAM Vice President for International Economic Affairs Frank Vargo.  “This is an acceleration from the already rapid 15 percent average growth pace of the earlier months of this year.

 “Manufactured goods exports are growing more than twice as fast as imports of manufactured goods, and as a result the manufactured goods trade deficit is falling,” Vargo said.  “June’s manufactured goods trade deficit in fact was 9 percent lower than it was a year ago.

“Chemicals, industrial machinery, and primary metal products are among the real export stand-outs so far this year,” said Vargo.  “The public isn’t aware of how much we export because these aren’t the types of goods they see in stores, but the fact is America is the world’s largest producer of manufactured goods and one of the world’s largest exporters of manufactured goods.

 “The performance of manufactured goods trade is so strong that it is a major offset to the rising deficit in petroleum,” said Vargo. “The U.S. appetite for imported petroleum remains huge and the deficit in petroleum now accounts for nearly two-thirds of the entire U.S. deficit in goods and services – underscoring the need for further development of domestic energy resources.”