U.S. aircraft exports are up 7 percent through November

Exports of civilian aircraft were up 7 percent for the nation as a whole through the first 11 months of 2014, compared to the same time period of 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

That increase could indicate a bit of a rebound for local exports in 2014, a key support for the local economy. Wichita metro exports fell 11.9 percent in 2013, to $3.8 billion, from 2012. That fall was led by a 16.6 percent decline in transportation equipment exports in 2013, to $1.4 billion.

In other major export categories important to the Wichita area, U.S. exports through November: Sorghum, up 177.1 percent; corn, up 65.2 percent; meat, up 8.9 percent; industrial machinery, up 11.6 percent; aircraft parts, up 3.6 percent; computers, 1.6 percent; organic chemicals down 6.2 percent; agricultural machinery, down 7.6 percent.

This story was originally published January 7, 2015 at 10:54 AM with the headline "U.S. aircraft exports are up 7 percent through November."