Total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged down to 17.72% (12 month moving average; compared to 17.81% in Sep 2019 and 18.17% in Oct 2018).

California slipped to #2, behind Texas with 17.75% (compared to 17.73% in Sep 2019 and 17.54% in Oct 2018), the first time the leading slots reversed since 2015. Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 29.76% (compared to 29.74% in Sep 2019 and 29.24% in Oct 2018).

The state’s continued prominence 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 632,000 jobs in Oct (up from 620,200 in Oct 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 $0.5 billion from Oct 2018 (down 3.1%), marking the 10th month over the past 12 where exports dropped as measured by same month/prior year basis.  California’s origin exports were down $6.4 billion (3.6%) for the 12 months ending October 2019, compared to the prior 12-month period.  Exports to China and Hong Kong were down $21.5 billion (15.5%), largely offset by shifts to other nations.

California remained steady in 2nd place with 10.54% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas which grew to 19.83%.

California’s balance of goods trade through state businesses narrowed to -$20.9 billion, compared to a level of -$25.5 billion in Oct 2018. California trade accounted for 27% of the US trade deficit in goods in Oct 2019.