Chapter TEN

TRADE IN OREGON

Oregon trade is heavily reliant on agriculture. Trees, nursery items, lumber and farm products are exported locally and internationally. Most notably, Oregon is the nations main producer of Christmas trees. There are Christmas tree farms throughout the state, 80-percent of all Christmas trees grown in the state are exported to other nearby states such as California.
Oregon Christmas tree growers harvest approximately 7.8 million trees annually. The value of the Christmas tree industry in the state is about $110 million. The Douglas Fir and Noble Fir are the two main type of trees grown. These two trees account for more than 90-percent of all sales.
The foreign customer to which the most trees are exported to is Mexico. Mexico receives approximately 16-percent of the trees grown in Oregon. Other foreign customers include Guam and countries on the Pacific rim.
Oregon is likely to remain the nations leading producer of Christmas trees because there is constant re-growth. For every tree cut there is one planted in its place, that ensures the productivity of the tree farms.
Other exports include lumber, digital processing units, potassium chloride, wheat, x-ray film, copper waste and scrap, and flat film. In 2011, Oregon exported approximately $1,063 million worth of potassium chloride, making it the third largest export in the state. X-ray film roll exports were estimated at $171 million. Copper waste and scrap exports were in 18th place at $125 million dollars.
Oregon cities such as Portland are looking to increase regional exports. Portland is currently working on a pilot export initiative with which it seeks to potentially double its regional exports within the next few years.


Sources:
"Foreign Trade." : State Exports for OREGON. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/state/data/or.html>.

"Noah Siegel Speaks on International Trade in Oregon." Noah Siegel Speaks on International Trade in Oregon. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://worldoregon.org/news/programs/young-professionals/noah-siegel-speaks-on-international-trade-in-oregon>.

"Oregon Department of Agriculture - Oregon Christmas Trees Begin Their Annual Export Journey." Oregon Department of Agriculture - Oregon Christmas Trees Begin Their Annual Export Journey. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/pages/news/101110christmas_trees.aspx>.