Total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged down to 17.94% (12 month moving average; compared to 17.97% in May 2019 and 18.33% in Jun 2018).

California remained the #1 state, ahead of Texas with 17.74% (compared to 17.72% in May 2019 and 17.14% in June 2018). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 29.55% (compared to 29.53% in May 2019 and 29.45% in June 2018). The state’s continued lead in this area forms the trade-related base for one of California’s largest centers of middle-class, blue-collar jobs. Transportation & Warehousing alone provided 618,000 jobs in June (up from 601,900 in Jun 2018), paying an average annual salary of $63.5k. This employment base in turn supports additional blue-collar and white-collar jobs in a range of other industries.

Total California goods exports were down sharply by $1.4 billion from Jun 2018 (down 8.9%), as the June numbers tracked more with July’s in prior years. California remained in 2nd place with 10.58% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas at 19.52%.

California’s balance of goods trade through state businesses broadened to -$21.4 billion, compared to a level of -$20.0 billion in June 2018. California trade accounted for 31% of the US trade deficit in goods in June 2019.