October 12, 2000

International trade statistics for San Diego as of July 2000
As reported by: Viviana Ibañez

There are two sets of trade statistics available for San Diego.

1.These trade statistics measure the amount of trade passing through the San Diego customs district, including the three
border crossings with Mexico, shipping through the Port of San Diego, or flown by airplane. The merchandise does not
necessarily originate or stay in San Diego. Much of the merchandise may come from or go to other parts of the U.S.
Most of the trade with Mexico is by truck and goes to or comes from Los Angeles, as well as other points in the U.S. (See
#2 below for amounts originating in San Diego).
The total amount of international trade passing through San Diego will reach $36 billion in 2000. Trade has nearly
quintupled since 1990.
95 per cent of the merchandise exported through San Diego goes to Mexico, and 77 percent of imports come from
Mexico.
San Diego has experienced a large increase of imports due to increases in cars imported from southeast Asia through
the Port of San Diego.
34 per cent of the commodities exported and imported through San Diego are classified as ELECTRIC
MACHINERY, ETC; SOUND EQUIP; TV EQUIP; & PARTS.
Interestingly, the second largest export and third largest import category is NUCLEAR REACTORS, BOILERS,
MACHINERY ETC.; & PARTS. (While the data does not reveal specific companies, I am sure this reflects Solar Turbines
merchandise.)
VEHICLES, EXCEPT RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY, AND PARTS ETC are the second highest category of imports,
reflecting the large number of automobiles now entering through the Port of San Diego.
Other prominent merchandise products includes medical instruments, apparel, toys and recreational equipment, wood
and furniture.

2.) The second set of trade data is the Export Location Series, which attempts to show where U.S. exports were
produced.
The latest statistics available from this series is for 1998 (reported in the November 1999 San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Economic Bulletin). This
showed San Diego companies generated $8.6 billion in exports, with nearly $3.8 billion going to Mexico. Since previous
customs district data showed $9.2 billion in merchandise going to Mexico through San Diego, this means around $5.4 billion
originated somewhere else in the U.S. and merely passed through San Diego on the way to Mexico.

The above two trade statistics only measure merchandise moving across international borders. Services such as legal,
business, consulting, medical, marketing and other services are not measured. The amount of dollars for international trade of
services is extensive in San Diego, but the federal government does not attempt to show the amount below a national level.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce estimated in 1998 that San Diego service exports could reasonably be around
another $3.3 billion in additional regional international trade.

Viviana Ibañez is the International Affairs Coordinator for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.