Exporters See Higher Sales But Local Companies Are Expecting Relatively Small Gains This Year

More Spokane exporters than ever before expect to sell more goods overseas this year, but most predict the increase will be relatively small.

A survey conducted for the Spokane Regional International Trade Alliance also showed only about one-third of the 183 companies sampled actively promote exports.

The rest accept foreign orders as they come through the door.

Many said resources limit what they can do to reach buyers outside the U.S. Almost two-thirds of the respondents have total revenues of less than $5 million.

Of those who expect their sales to increase, 42 percent expect that growth to exceed 10 percent, 43 percent anticipate 5 percent to 10 percent growth and 15 percent expect growth of less than 5 percent.

Only 9 percent predicted a loss of foreign sales, and 15 percent no change.

Canada remains the dominant trading partner, as it does for the U.S. as a whole.

Besides Canada, with 121 mentions, the favorites were Japan, 64; United Kingdom, 41; Australia, 39; South Korea, 38; and Mexico, 36.

Looking ahead, company officials most often cited Latin America and northeast Asia as areas where they would like to expand sales.

, DataTimes