U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS ON EXPORT DATA RELEASE

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg’s Statement on the Release of Export Data from the Commerce Department
U.S. Exports Reach $196.4 Billion in November

Washington, D.C. – Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg issued the following statement with respect to November’s export data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department. According to BEA, the United States exported $196.4 billion of goods and services in November 2014.

“Contrary to the old conventional wisdom that the days of the U.S. making things are behind us, these numbers are further proof that the world still demands quality American-made goods—now more than ever, in fact,” said Hochberg. “At Ex-Im Bank, we’re supporting American exporters and workers to bring their goods and services to new global markets and create more middle class jobs here at home.”

ABOUT EX-IM BANK:

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that supports and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees and export credit insurance, to promote the sale of U.S. goods and services abroad. Ninety percent of its transactions directly serve American small businesses.

In fiscal year 2014, Ex-Im Bank approved $20.5 billion in total authorizations. These authorizations supported an estimated $27.5 billion in U.S. export sales, as well as approximately 164,000 American jobs in communities across the country.

EX-IM BANK SAYS U.S. EXPORTS REACHED $193.3 BILLION IN APRIL

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 

U.S. Exports Reach $193.3 Billion in April

 Export-Import Bank Financing Support Helps Create American Jobs

Washington, D.C. – The United States exported $193.3 billion of goods and services in April 2014, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

“The numbers show that the world’s consumers want U.S. goods and services for their quality and reliability,” said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “Made in America is still the best in the world, and the Ex-Im Bank is proud to play its part in boosting U.S. exporters abroad and supporting jobs here at home.”

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.3 trillion, which is 45.1 percent above the level of exports in 2009, and have been growing at an annualized rate of 9.0 percent when compared to 2009.

During the same time period among the major export markets (i.e., markets with at least $6 billion in annual imports of U.S. goods), the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, were Panama (22.7 percent), Russia (18.9 percent), Peru (18.5 percent), Hong Kong (17.9 percent), Colombia (17.6 percent), Argentina (16.4 percent), Ecuador (16.1 percent), Chile (15.5 percent), Indonesia (14.6 percent) and China (14.5 percent).

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REPORTS U.S. EXPORTS REACH $193.9 BILLION IN MARCH

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 

U.S. Exports Reach $193.9 Billion in March

 Ex-Im Bank Continues to Support U.S. Jobs by Financing U.S. Exports

Washington, D.C. – The United States exported $193.9 billion of goods and services in March 2014, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

“As the numbers prove, consumers around the world favor U.S. goods and services, because they know ‘Made in America’ is the best you can buy,” said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “Ex-Im Bank will continue to support U.S. exporters as they fill orders abroad and support jobs here at home.”

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.3 trillion, which is 45.1 percent above the level of exports in 2009, and have been growing at an annualized rate of 9.1 percent when compared to 2009.

During the same time period among the major export markets (i.e., markets with at least $6 billion in annual imports of U.S. goods), the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, were Panama (23.5 percent), Russia (19.4 percent), Peru (18.2 percent), Hong Kong (18.1 percent), Colombia (17.8 percent), Argentina (16.5 percent), Chile (15.9 percent), United Arab Emirates (15.3 percent), China (14.8 percent) and Indonesia (14.7 percent).

EX-IM BANK AND PTA BANK SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WORTH $100 MILLION

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
Ex-Im Bank Signs $100 Million Agreement with PTA Bank

Washington, DC – Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), and Admassu Tadesse, president and chief executive of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank), signed a $100 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the GE “Garage” here yesterday.

“Yesterday we reached an agreement to work with members of the sub-Saharan African Diaspora community in America who wish to export U.S. goods and services to their home countries. The agreement aligns with the White House’s ‘U.S. Strategy Toward sub-Saharan Africa,’ which focuses on growth in the region,” said Chairman Hochberg. “By engaging Diaspora-owned businesses, the arrangement will help U.S. companies capitalize on unique opportunities abroad and support jobs here at home while contributing to the development of sub-Saharan Africa.”

The MOU signing capped a conference titled “Unlocking Growth in Africa: How the Diaspora can Partner with the Public and Private Sectors in the U.S. and Africa” held at the GE-powered “Garage,” a new high-tech experiential showcase where visitors can try out the latest technologies, including 3D printers and laser cutters.

According to the MOU, Ex-Im Bank and PTA Bank will explore options for utilizing up to $100 million in Ex-Im Bank medium- and long-term loan guarantees and/or direct loans to finance U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa that target both Diaspora businesses in the U.S. and PTA Bank’s member states.

Ex-Im Bank and PTA Bank have joined forces on number of transactions over the last 15 years to boost trade finance and U.S. exports to Africa. In 2011, Ex-Im Bank guaranteed a $60 million loan extended by HSBC to PTA Bank that financed the sale of American aircraft to Rwanda's RwandAir Express.

“PTA Bank has been growing its financing by about 30% per annum, of which close to half has gone into energy and infrastructure, with the renewable sub-sector a beneficiary. In the past two years, we have co-financed several independent power producers in various countries such as Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda, including wind farms and mini-hydros,” Mr. Tadesse said. “We are keen on furthering our financing of infrastructure and power development, and are looking forward to expanded financial cooperation with long-standing partners such as U.S. Exim Bank, among others.”

PTA Bank is a multilateral development bank that provides development capital and services to advance regional growth and integration.

In the past four years, Ex-Im Bank has authorized more than $4 billion in financing for U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa. In FY 2013 alone, Ex-Im Bank authorized a record 188 transactions totaling $604 million to facilitate exports to the region. Ex-Im Bank-supported exports accounted for three percent of all U.S. merchandise exports to sub-Saharan Africa during the same timeframe.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK ANNOUNCES U.S. EXPORTS WERE $190.4 BILLION IN FEBRUARY

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
U.S. Exports Reach $190.4 Billion in February
 Ex-Im Bank Continues to Support U.S. Jobs by Financing U.S. Exports

Washington, D.C. – The United States exported $190.4 billion of goods and services in February 2014, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

“The world continues to choose products stamped ‘Made in America,’ as February’s trade numbers show,” said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “Ex-Im Bank’s support of U.S. exporters has helped them seal deals abroad and support vital jobs here at home, all the while generating billions of dollars for taxpayers.”

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.3 trillion, which is 44.5 percent above the level of exports in 2009, and have been growing at an annualized rate of 9.2 percent when compared to 2009.

During the same time period among the major export markets (i.e., markets with at least $6 billion in annual imports of U.S. goods), the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, were Panama (23.6 percent), Russia (19.6 percent), Peru (19.4 percent), Hong Kong (18.9 percent), Colombia (17.9 percent), United Arab Emirates (17.1 percent), Argentina (16.4 percent), Chile (16.3 percent), Ecuador (15.2 percent), and Indonesia (15.0 percent).

ABOUT EX-IM BANK:

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that creates and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working-capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. In the past fiscal year alone, Ex-Im Bank earned for U.S. taxpayers more than $1 billion above the cost of operations.

In FY 2013, Ex-Im Bank approved more than $27 billion in total authorizations to support an estimated $37.4 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 205,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For the year, the Bank approved a record 3,413 transactions-- or 89 percent--for small-businesses.

REMARKS: VP BIDEN WITH CHILEAN PRESIDENT PINERA IN SANTIAGO, CHILE

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 
Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden at a Bilateral Meeting with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera
Palacio de la Moneda
Santiago, Chile

PRESIDENT PIÑERA:  Good morning.  I would like to give the most warm in the world’s welcome to the Vice President of the United States, Mr. Joe Biden.

You know that he was elected senator when he was only 29 years of age (inaudible) the youngest senator in the history of the United States.  He performed as a U.S. senator for more than 36 years, and now he’s the Vice President of the United States.

Welcome to Chile.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

PRESIDENT PIÑERA:  We consider yourself and the country a very good and loyal friend of my country.  So -- and I know that you have a very important voice to give and we are very pleased to have you here.  Welcome to Chile once again, and I give you --

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you, Mr. President.  I -- despite some of the crises that are going on around the world, the President and I agreed that it was important that I be here in Chile because this -- our commitment to this relationship is real.  It’s deep, and you’ve deepened in your term, Mr. President.

I had a great meeting with President-elect Bachelet this morning, and I’m looking forward to meeting with you after this brief comments to the press here.  And I also look forward to meeting the other leaders in the region from Colombia, Peru, Mexico and elsewhere.  So it’s an opportunity for me meet others as well.

The President and I believe that the hemisphere, the Western Hemisphere, and particularly the Southern Hemisphere has -- offers enormous, enormous potential.  It’s the destination of 40 percent of all of America’s exports.  It’s home to a growing middle class, and it’s quickly becoming (inaudible) quickly becoming a world energy center.

And we, for the first time, Mr. President, at least in my career, talk about how to achieve a hemisphere that is secure, middle-class and free.  We’ve never been able to look at it that way before.  From Canada through -- down through Chile and everywhere in between, And nowhere in the region is that more -- potentially more apparent than in Chile.  (Inaudible) the United States you mentioned historic close ties.  And that's why -- it’s why I’m here.  That's why my delegation is here.

Mr. President, our two countries have worked well together.  We’ve made significant progress through your leadership in the TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiation.  During your term, Mr. President, our two countries also strengthened our people-to-people ties through the Visa Waiver Program.  I remember first meeting you, talking about that.  Chile is the only Latin America country in the program that allows visa-free travel between Chile and the United States.

And as far as my visit, I’m happy to say that we’re not going to wait until May the 1st.  We want to move that program up to begin on March the 31st.  Again, thank you for your -- all your efforts.

The United States, Mr. President, looks forward to working with your successor, President Bachelet, on these and many more issues.  I personally look forward to tomorrow’s inauguration.  I’ve heard it described as the perfect example of democratic transfer of power.  Chile’s economic, democratic tradition teaches us all that pragmatism, not ideology, is the secret to success.  It’s no coincidence that Chile has used democracy and the open market to create new opportunities for her citizens.  And we continue to look forward to working with the government of Chile, and I continue to look forward to seeing you as well in person.

Thank you for you hospitality.

END

U.S. EXPORTS UP 41.7% SINCE 2009 ACCORDING TO EX-IM BANK

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
U.S. Exports Reach $189.4 Billion in July
Exports Up 41.7 percent since 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States exported $189.4 billion in goods and services in July 2013, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department. July’s exports came in just shy of June’s all-time record high of $190.5 billion.

“These numbers demonstrate that President Obama’s National Export Initiative continues to help American businesses thrive in international markets,” said Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg. “Exports are a critical component of our nation’s economic success, and I look forward to seeing more ‘Made in the USA’ labels on shelves around the world.”

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.2 trillion, which is 41.7 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 10.2 percent when compared to 2009.

Over the last twelve months, among the major export markets, the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, occurred in Panama (28.6 percent), Russia (22.1 percent), United Arab Emirates (21.9 percent), Peru (21.3 percent), Chile (20.9 percent), Colombia (19.7 percent), Hong Kong (19.5 percent), Argentina (18.3 percent), Ecuador (18.0 percent), and South Africa (17.7 percent).

U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK SAYS EXPORTS REACH ALL-TIME HIGH

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
U.S. Exports Reach All-Time High of $191.2 Billion in June

Exports Up 41.5 Percent Since 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States exported a record $191.2 billion of goods and services in June 2013, according to trade data was released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

U.S. exports in June 2013 reached an all-time high, exceeding the previous record of $188.7 billion set in December 2012. The June export level is also 2.2 percent higher than that of the previous month.

“Today’s announcement of record-level U.S. exports in June is a testament to the strength of American exports. Increased exports mean more jobs here at home – the goal of President Obama’s National Export Initiative. We at Ex-Im Bank work every day to help American exporters and their workers succeed in selling their products and services in an increasingly competitive global marketplace,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg.

Exports of goods and services over the past twelve months totaled $2.2 trillion, which is 41.5 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 10.4 percent when compared to the same period in 2009.

Over the last twelve months, among the major export markets (i.e., markets with at least $6 billion in annual imports of U.S. goods), the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, occurred in Panama (28.6 percent), United Arab Emirates (23.1 percent), Russia (22.6 percent), Peru (21.9 percent), Chile (21.4 percent), Colombia (19.5 percent), Hong Kong (19.2 percent), Argentina (18.5 percent), South Africa (18.3 percent) and Venezuela (18.1 percent).

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK SAYS U.S. EXPORTS REACHED $187.1 BILLION IN MAY

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
U.S. Exports Reach $187.1 Billion in May
Exports Up 41% Since 2009

Washington, D.C. – The United States exported $187.1 billion in goods and services in May 2013, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.2 trillion, which is 41.2 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 10.6 percent during the same period when compared to 2009.

“These numbers reflect the continued competitiveness of American exporters in the global marketplace,” said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “It is clear that foreign countries continue to ‘buy American’ because of the superior quality of our products and services and the unrivaled innovation of our workforce. Ex-Im Bank remains committed to supporting U.S. jobs by promoting U.S. exports.”

Over the last twelve months, among the major export markets (i.e., markets with at least $6 billion in annual imports of U.S. goods), the countries with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases, when compared to 2009, were Panama (29.4 percent), United Arab Emirates (24.1 percent), Russia (23.4 percent), Peru (22.2 percent), Chile (21.5 percent), Colombia (19.7 percent), Venezuela (19.4 percent), South Africa (19.1 percent), Hong Kong (18.9 percent), and Argentina (18.8 percent).

U.S. EXPORTED $185 BILLION OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN JUINE 2012

FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
U.S. Exports in June Reach $185 Billion

Washington, D.C. – The United States exported $185 billion in goods and services in June 2012, according to data released today by the U.S. Commerce Department. This is an all-time high overtaking the previous record of $184.4 billion in March 2012.

"This is the highest value ever recorded for the export of U.S. goods and services," said Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of Ex-Im Bank. "Exporting is paying off for American workers at home, and it is essential we continue to cultivate business overseas to support the U.S. economy."

U.S. exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.165 trillion, which is 37.1 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, U.S. exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 13.5 percent when compared to 2009.

Over the last twelve months, the major export markets with the largest annualized increase in purchases of U.S. goods were Panama (38.1 percent), Turkey (29.5 percent), Argentina (29.1 percent), Hong Kong (28.3 percent), Chile (28.1 percent), Russia (26.4 percent), Honduras (26.1 percent), Peru (25.5 percent), Brazil (22.7 percent) and Ecuador (22.1 percent).

U.S. EXPORTS IN APRIL HIT $182.9 BILLION

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Friday, June 08, 2012
U.S. Exports in April Hit $182.9 Billion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States exported $182.9 billion in goods and services in April 2012, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Commerce Department. Compared to the same time period in 2011, there has been increased activity in Australia ($9.9 billion, +26.3%), the Middle East ($2.1 billion, +23.1%), and China ($3.5 billion, +4.3%). Additionally, fiscal year-to-date authorizations through May 31 for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) are up from $20.4 billion in 2011 to $21.9 billion in 2012.

“These results demonstrate that U.S. exports remain strong even though there has been economic uncertainty throughout Europe, said Fred P. Hochberg, the chairman and president of Ex-Im Bank. “Exports continue to offer American companies extraordinary opportunities to boost sales to the 95 percent of the world's customers that are located outside the U.S."

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.145 trillion, which is 35.8 percent above the level of exports in 2009 and a record for the United States. Over the last twelve months, exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 14.0 percent when compared to 2009.

Over the last twelve months, the major export markets with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases were Panama (37.2 percent), Turkey (33.0 percent), Argentina (29.8 percent), Chile (29.5 percent), Honduras (29.4 percent), Hong Kong (28.9 percent), Peru (27.9 percent), Russia (27.0 percent), Brazil (24.6 percent), and Ecuador (23.0 percent). Of these, Brazil and Turkey are among the nine countries that Ex-Im has identified as having the greatest sales potential for U.S. companies. The other seven countries are Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, and Vietnam.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Export-Import Bank Annual Conference Highlights U.S. Export Growth, Need for Financing
New Export Data Announced, President Clinton Calls for Ex-Im’s Reauthorization

Washington, D.C. – The significance of U.S. export growth to America’s economy and the need for continued availability of export financing were key themes highlighted at the 37th annual conference of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), held in Washington, D.C., April 12-13.

Ex-Im Bank announced new trade figures showing that U.S. exports reached more than $181.2 billion in February 2012, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Commerce Department. Over the last 12 months, exports totaled more than $2.1 trillion – nearly 35.5 percent above the level of exports in 2009.

U.S. exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 15 percent, the growth rate required to meet President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015.

Ex-Im’s two-day conference, entitled “Ex-Im Bank –Your Competitive Edge,” drew more than 1,200 participants from 40 countries and featured keynote speeches and panel presentations by world business, finance and political leaders.

President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the 42nd president of the United States, gave the keynote address on Thursday, April 12, focusing on the critical role of trade in global development. He also called for Ex-Im’s congressional reauthorization and an increase in the Bank’s exposure cap.

“If America wants to lead the world in shared prosperity, a key component must be to increase employment in the tradable sector,” said President Clinton, who also addressed Ex-Im’s annual conference in 1993 while in office. “There is a whole raft of studies that show that Americans who work in the tradable sector of the economy are not only likely to get jobs with higher starting pay but also pay that increases with the growth of the companies.”

The former president also commented on the role of Ex-Im Bank in helping U.S. exporters compete with foreign companies supported by their governments. “As a practical matter, when you are on a field in a competition, you either meet the competition or you get beat. Unilateral disarmament is not a very good recipe for success,” Clinton noted. “If you are here from the USA, I urge you to ask the Congress to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank at the higher level.”

Conference presenters on Friday, April 13, included Commerce Secretary John Bryson, Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel and Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg told conference attendees that Ex-Im Bank and the U.S. Maritime Administration have worked out a new agreement that will make it easier for U.S. exporters benefiting from the Bank’s buyer financing for large transactions to meet U.S.-flagged shipping requirements.

Ex-Im Bank also announced its initial transaction under Global Credit Express, the Bank’s first direct loan product for small businesses. The pilot program features a 12-month line of credit up to $500,000 for eligible exporters. Last week, the Bank approved a $200,000 loan to JCA International Corp., in Carlsbad, Calif., a small-business importer and exporter of frozen fruits and vegetables.

In addition, a new special "Business Speed Networking" session brought together foreign buyers and American sellers for one-on-one introductory meetings aimed to facilitate deal-making.
About Ex-Im Bank:

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

U.S. EXPORTS OVER $181 BILLION IN FEBRUARY

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

U.S. Exports Hit More Than $181.2 Billion in February

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States exported $181.2 billion in goods and services in February 2012, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department. Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.134 trillion, which is 35.46 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 15.04 percent when compared to 2009, a pace slightly greater than the 15 percent required to double exports by 2015.

“Exports are more important to America than ever, and I am pleased that we are on track to meet President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015,” said Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Over the last twelve months, the major export markets with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases were Panama (39.1 percent), Turkey (37.0 percent), Honduras (32.1 percent), Argentina (31.0 percent), Chile (30.8 percent), Hong Kong (30.2 percent), Peru (28.1 percent), Russia (26.2 percent), Brazil (25.9 percent), and Guatemala (24.2 percent).

ABOUT EX-IM BANK

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved $32.7 billion in total authorizations in FY 2011 -- an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6 billion directly supporting small-business export sales -- also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank's total authorizations are supporting an estimated $41 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 290,000 American jobs in communities across the country.

U.S. EXPORTED $180.8 BILLION IN GOODS AND SERVICES IN JANUARY 2012

The following excerpt is from an Export-Import Bank e-mail:

"U.S. EXPORTS HIT MORE THAN $180 BILLION IN JANUARY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States exported $180.8 billion in goods and services in January 2012, an increase of  more than $1 billion over December 2011, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.118 trillion, which is more than 34 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 15.3 percent when compared to 2009, a pace greater than the 15 percent required to double exports by the end of 2014.

"The Brookings Institute yesterday released the report, “Export Nation 2012,” and it confirmed that exports are leading the way toward economic recovery,” said Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). 

The Brookings report also found sales grew by more than 11 percent in 2010, the fastest growth since 1997. In terms of job creation, the number of U.S. total export-supported jobs increased by almost 6 percent in 2010, even as the overall economy was still losing jobs. Further, large metropolitan areas powered the nation’s export growth – the largest metro areas produced almost 65 percent of the U.S. export sales in 2010.

Over the last twelve months, the major export markets with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases were Turkey (40.7 percent), Panama (37.9 percent), Argentina (34.0 percent), Honduras (32.9 percent), Chile (30.2 percent), Hong Kong (30.2 percent), Peru (29.0 percent), South Africa (27.6 percent), Brazil (26.7 percent), and Guatemala (25.6 percent).

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, Ex-Im Bank approved $4.26 billion in authorizations, supporting approximately 37,000 American jobs. Over $789 million in export financing was authorized for small businesses, and the number of small business customers increased by 10% over the same quarter in 2011.

ABOUT EX-IM BANK

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers nearly $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services."