The share of total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged up to 17.66% (12 month moving average; compared to 17.58% in July 2020 and 17.87% in August 2019).

California remained the #1 state, ahead of Texas with 17.30% (compared to 17.40% in July 2020 and 17.73% in August 2019). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 30.49% (compared to 30.39% in July 2020 and 29.65% in August 2019).

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. While down, Transportation & Warehousing alone provided 625,800 jobs in August (compared to 653,000 in August 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 plunged $1.9 billion from August 2019 (down 12.9%).  California remained in 2nd place with 10.79% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas at 20.06%.

Exports for the rest of the US were down even sharper at 14.8%.  However, this outcome reflects a continuing trend since the economic crisis began in March.  California’s continued reliance on Asian markets combined with a stronger economic recovery in China have shielded some of the state’s export business, while manufacturing levels and related cross-border trade in the supply chains with plants in Canada and Mexico have affected trade numbers in other states.

California’s balance of goods trade activity through state businesses broadened to -$23.3 billion, compared to a level of -$20.2 billion in August 2019. California trade accounted for 27% of the US trade deficit in goods in August 2020.