The share of total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged down to 18.18% (12-month moving average; compared to 18.28% in March 2021 and 17.36% in April 2020).

California remained the #1 state, ahead of Texas with 16.90% (compared to 16.62% in March 2021 and 17.73% in April 2020). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 30.59% (compared to 30.75% in March 2021 and 30.06% in April 2020). 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 689,900 jobs, up 78,000 from the year prior.

Total California goods exports were up $4.8 billion from April 2020 (up 46.4%). The 2020 numbers, however, reflect the sharp drops in world trade at the beginning of the pandemic period. Using April 2019 as a more “normal” year base, exports were up 7.7%, or about 1.7% annually in real terms.

California remained in 2nd place with 10.82% of all US goods exports (12-month moving total), behind Texas at 19.37%.

California’s balance of goods trade activity through state businesses broadened to -$22.4 billion, compared to a level of -$16.2 billion in April 2020. California trade accounted for 27% of the US trade deficit in goods.