May 6, 2014 – California’s exporters once again posted impressive numbers in March, with the value of the state's merchandise export trade surging ahead by 9.6% over the same month a year earlier, according to a Beacon Economics' analysis of foreign trade data released this morning by the U.S. Commerce Department.

"Our manufacturers, growers, and trading companies continue to providence abundant evidence of the competitiveness of California's economy in today's global marketplace," said Jock O'Connell, Beacon Economics’ International Trade Adviser.

"After years of economic travail, the term "Golden State" is starting to sound less and less ironic," he added.

For the month of March, the state's merchandise export trade totaled $15.43 billion, up from $14.07 billion in March 2013. By comparison, overall U.S. merchandise exports increased by just 4.1% over the same period.

March also saw an 11.3% jump in California’s manufactured exports, which totaled $10.29 billion, up from $9.25 billion a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the state's exports of non-manufactured goods (chiefly agricultural produce and raw materials) in March totaled $1.93 billion, up % from $1.78 billion the previous March.

Re-exports grew by 5.3% to $3.21 billion from $3.05 billion.

Through this year's first quarter, the state's export trade was running 6.8% ahead of the first three months of 2013, rising to $42.05 billion. By contrast, overall U.S. merchandise exports rose by just 2.6% in the same period.

Manufactured exports from California were up 6.2% to $27.57 billion. The state's first quarter exports of non-manufactured goods totaled $5.49 billion, a gain of 11.3%, while re-exports increased 6.2% to $8.99 billion.

Beacon's outlook for continued export growth over the next few months is positive.

"Our faith in the resourcefulness of California's export community is undiminished," O'Connell remarked.

"Excepting for the usual laundry list of potential catastrophes, our forecast therefore remains buoyant."