The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Alabama global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Alabama.

Figures are shown at the more granular six-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, for more precise product identification.

1. Mid-sized automobiles (piston engine): US$3.4 billion (15.8% of Alabama’s total exports)
2. Large automobiles (piston engine): $2.2 billion (10.1%)
3. Large automobiles (diesel engine): $1.7 billion (7.8%)
4. Coal (non-agglomerated, bituminous) $1.3 billion (6.1%)
5. Aircraft including engines, parts: $1.1 billion (5.2%)
6. Large spark-ignition engines: $555 million (2.6%)
7. Chemical woodpulp (coniferous): $481 million (2.2%)
8. Mid-sized automobiles (diesel engine): $401 million (1.8%)
9. Polycarbonates: $359 million (1.7%)
10. Miscellaneous chemical residues, other products: $354 million (1.6%)

Alabama’s top 10 exports accounted for 54.9% of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Coal was the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories, up by 159.1% from 2016.

In second place for improving export sales was aircraft including engines and other parts which rose 32%.

Alabama’s shipments of large automobiles with piston engines posted the third-fastest gain in value up by 20.9%.

The leading decliner among Alabama top 10 export products were large automobiles with diesel engines which retreated -17.3% year over year.

Overall, Alabama incurred a -$1.9 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2017. That dollar amount reflects a 13.5% year-over-year increase from -$1.7 billion in red ink in 2016.

Another way of saying surplus or deficit is positive or negative net exports. In a nutshell, the term “net exports” quantifies the amount by which foreign spending on a state’s goods or services exceeds or lags that same state’s spending on foreign goods or services.

Below are Alabama’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2017.

1. Crude petroleum oils: $2.1 billion (8.8% of Alabama’s total imports)
2. Large spark-ignition engines: $925 million (3.9%)
3. Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $839 million (3.5%)
4. Miscellaneous aircraft parts: $773 million (3.3%)
5. Motor vehicle transmissions: $634 million (2.7%)
6. Miscellaneous motor vehicle parts: $586 million (2.5%)
7. Seat parts: $576 million (2.4%)
8. Steering wheels/columns/boxes: $405 million (1.7%)
9. Turbo-jets: $355 million (1.5%)
10. Diesel engines: $352 million (1.5%)

Alabama has highly negative net exports in the international trade of crude petroleum oils. In turn, these cashflows indicate Alabama’s competitive disadvantages under that mineral fuels-related category.

The following list shows the top 10 customers that purchase over three-quarters (76.6%) worth of the total value of products exported from Alabama during 2017.

1. Canada $4.1 billion (19.1% of Alabama’s total exports)
2. China $3.6 billion (16.7%)
3. Germany $2.94 billion (13.5%)
4. Mexico $2.9 billion (13.3%)
5. Japan $683 million (3.1%)
6. Belgium $576 million (2.7%)
7. South Korea $472 million (2.2%)
8. India $453 million (2.1%)
9. Brazil $442 million (2%)
10. France $412 million (1.9%)

Alabama’s top trade partners in North America (Canada and Mexico) account for almost a third (32.4%) of the overall value of exported goods from the Cotton State.

Alabama Export Companies

Three Alabama-based corporations rank among Fortune 1000 Companies in 2017, a list that showcases America’s largest businesses. Those firms are listed below.

• Encompass Health Corp (healthcare services)
• Vulcan Materials Company (crushed stone, gravel, sand)
• Regions Financial Corp (retail/commercial banking)

Shown within brackets for each company is a summary of products or services that each business offers, some of which are related to Alabama’s international trade transactions.