The share of total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged up to 17.35% (12 month moving average; compared to 17.23% in Mar 2020 and 18.02% in Apr 2019).

California remained in second place, behind Texas with 17.8% (compared to 18.06% in Mar 2020 and 17.69% in Apr 2019). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 30.02% (compared to 29.86% in Mar 2020 and 29.52% in Apr 2019). Even as the trade activity lead has again moved to Texas, the trade-related base continues to be one of California’s largest centers of middle-class, blue-collar jobs. Transportation & Warehousing alone provided 593,700 jobs in Apr (down from 622,000 in Apr 2019), paying an average annual salary of $62.0k. 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 $3.7 billion from Apr 2019 (down 26.5%). California remained in 2nd place with 10.52% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas at 20.38%.

California’s balance of goods trade activity through state businesses narrowed to -$16.2 billion, compared to a level of -$18.5 billion in Apr 2019. California trade accounted for 23% of the US trade deficit in goods in Apr 2020.