Local Exporters See Higher Sales In ‘96

Spokane-area exporters expect sales increases overseas this year, says a survey by the Spokane Regional International Trade Alliance.

Of the 147 companies contacted by telephone, 70 percent project sales will improve on 1995. More than half of the companies estimate the gain will exceed 10 percent.

One-third expect gains between 5 percent and 10 percent.

Small companies - those with annual sales of less than $5 million - comprised 71 percent of the sample.

Despite the increased export activity, overseas sales represent less than 5 percent of total sales for 43 percent of the companies.

Alliance Acting Director Karen Marshall said the findings also indicated most of the companies included in a similar survey last year met or exceeded their sales projections in 1995.

Canada was by far the most frequently mentioned market, followed by Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom.

, DataTimes