The United States exported $184.5 billion in goods and services in January 2013, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

“Increasing exports has fueled job growth and been a critical component of our economic recovery,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “Although more work needs to be done to reach customers abroad and create jobs here at home, the outlook for exports in 2013 remains bright. Ex-Im Bank will continue to help American entrepreneurs grow their businesses by reaching new markets beyond our borders.”

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.2 trillion, which is 39.4 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 11.4 percent when compared to 2009. Exports were up $5.8 billion, or 3.3 percent from January 2012 to January 2013.

Among major export markets, the top ten buying countries with the largest annualized increase in purchases of U.S. goods were, when compared to 2009:

• Panama – 32.6 percent
• Russia – 25.6 percent
• Chile – 25.3 percent
• Peru – 23.9 percent
• Venezuela – 23.6 percent
• United Arab Emirates – 23.4 percent
• Argentina – 21.3 percent
• Hong Kong – 21.2 percent
• Turkey – 20.7 percent
• Columbia – 20.6 percent

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years (from Fiscal Year 2008), Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers nearly $1.6 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved nearly $35.8 billion in total authorizations in FY 2012 – an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6.1 billion directly supporting small-business export sales – also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank's total authorizations are supporting an estimated $50 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 255,000 American jobs in communities across the country.