Several weeks ago, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that U.S.exports of goods and services hit an all-time high of $175.6 billion in April, with goods exports valued at $126.4 billion and services at $49.1 billion. The overall figure surpassed March’s total exports of  $172.7 billion.

This month’s cover story on the hottest emerging markets couldn’t be more timely. The relatively weak U.S. dollar, strong demand for American-made goods in overseas markets, and a plethora of government programs and resources designed to get the export sector stimulated are key ingredients for any U.S. company that’s interested in exporting or looking to expand their current program.

Contributing writer Dan McCue does a fine job of profiling some of the countries and regions that are attracting interest from U.S. companies and checks in with those who are operating there to get their advice on how to achieve success.

As a follow up, Gail Dutton provides an excellent overview of what the government can help with, from trade missions to market reports to funding and matchmaking services. 

This issue also includes the first annual Supply Chain Survey conducted by WT100 and the University of Tennessee, which dovetails perfectly with the theme of our cover story.

The survey examines trends related to outsourcing and supply chain risk management. While low labor costs continue to be the top reason for outsourcing, respondents also cited higher landed costs as a deterrent. And with all the focus on supply chain risk in recent months, it’s interesting to see how companies are monitoring their supply chains, or not.

Other feature articles include a look at the evolving partnerships between truckers and ocean carriers to expedite less than containerload  (LCL) freight into the U.S. on a time-definite schedule, along with valuable trade finance information that can help companies get the money they need in the current economy.

On the digital side, WT100 is preparing for the launch of its new web site later this month. This is more than just a spiffed up version of what we already have. In fact, the new site will not only have a ton more content and resources, it will be better organized, more interactive, easier to navigate, and will compel visitors to not only stay longer, but visit more often.

We’ll let you know once it’s officially launched.

Enjoy the read (and the future surfing).