Sept. 8. The International Trade Administration says the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area exported a record $14.0 billion in goods last year. Charlotte totals increased by $1.1 billion, or 8.5 percent, from 2014 to 2015, and is one of the 63 metro areas to achieve record export levels last year.

Key merchandise export categories included transportation equipment, non-electrical machinery and chemicals.

“Exports continue to be a source of growth for the Charlotte economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “Charlotte is one of 63 metropolitan areas across our nation that set a record for goods exports last year. The Department of Commerce continues to focus its services on assisting more Charlotte-based firms sell their ‘Made in America’ products to global consumers, which will support additional growth and good-paying jobs.”

U.S. metropolitan area goods exports exceeded $1.3 trillion in 2015, and accounted for 89 percent of total U.S. goods exports last year. One hundred and fifty-six metropolitan areas tallied merchandise exports worth more than $1 billion in 2015.

“Charlotte has made international trade a focus, and that’s reflected in this year’s export record,” said Greg Sizemore, director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Charlotte.

Nearly 67 percent of goods exports went to markets where the United States has trade agreements in force.

Current free trade agreement partner markets account for a substantial and growing share of exports for many metropolitan areas, and new trade agreements will increase opportunities for Charlotte area companies to sell more products to growing markets.

For more information on exporting, contact the U.S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Center in Charlotte and visit http://www.export.gov/ northcarolina/.