Philly exports climb 5.6%

Philadelphia exports rose 5.6 percent to a record $26.3 billion last year, the U.S. Commerce Department said Thursday.

The Philadelphia metro area ranked 11th among U.S. metropolitan areas in 2014, with key exports being chemicals, computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, petroleum and coal products, and machinery.

The federal agency said that 42.6 percent of exports went to markets where the United States has trade agreements. Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands were the leading destinations.

Exports traveled by ships, trucks, railroad, and airplanes. The region included Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties; Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey; Newcastle County, Del.; and Cecil County, Md.

"More and more U.S. businesses understand that 96 percent of their potential customers live outside the United States, and that selling their world-class goods in the global marketplace is critical to their bottom line," U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said in a statement.

Increasing U.S. exports is a priority for the Obama Administration. "We remain focused on helping to increase the number of companies that take advantage of these exporting opportunities, creating jobs, and strengthening both the local Philadelphia and national economy," Pritzker said.