Seafood, minerals, petroleum products and fertilizer sales lead Alaska exports

Alaska businesses exported $3.2 billion in goods to foreign companies in 2004 according to the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.

Seafood products continue to be the most valuable export commodity in Alaska, the department said, totaling $1.7 billion in 2004.

Mineral exports of lead and zinc rose $92 million (22 percent) to $505 million for the year. Energy sales of liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals and coal climbed $71 million in 2004, or 23 percent, for a total of $376 million. Fertilizer sales of $231 million were $32 million higher than in 2003. These four categories account for nearly 90 percent of all international exports.

“Alaska has not seen these high levels of international exports since farmed fish saturated the global market and we exported crude oil to Asia,” said Mark Edwards, Economist for the state Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.