Home Trade and Investment State Trade Fact Sheets 2005 South Carolina

South Carolina

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• 69,000 South Carolina jobs are supported by Canada-U.S. trade
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $411 billion
• Canada–U.S. trade supported 5.2 million U.S. jobs
• Satisfying camera-happy Canadians—South Carolina supplied its northern neighbor with $42 million worth of photographic film last year
• Canada-South Carolina trade in motor vehicle goods totaled $600 million in 2004

Strongest ties...
Canada was the Palmetto State’s largest trading partner in 2004, purchasing 21% of the state’s total exports. Bilateral exchanges reached $4.5 billion last year, representing an increase in trade of 17% from 2003. Canada and South Carolina maintained their close trade relationship with an average of $12 million in goods traded daily. Sales to Canada totaled $2.6 billion, and included growth in the metals and transportation sectors. Conversely, Canada supplied the state with $1.9 billion in goods last year.

Transport pushes bilateral trade...
Canada-South Carolina trade was dominated by the transportation sector yet again in 2004. The exchange of transportation goods generated $1.5 billion and accounted for a third of overall trade. The sector was particularly lucrative for the Palmetto State, which sold $951 million worth of transportation products to Canada last year. The state supplied its northern neighbor with $374 million in motor vehicle parts (excluding engines), making them South Carolina’s largest export commodities to Canada in 2004. Other top exports included $228 million in automobiles and $77 million in motor vehicle engine parts.

In 2004, Canada provided the Palmetto State with $544 million worth of transportation goods, satisfying the state’s growing demand in the sector. South Carolina’s purchases grew by $104 million in 2004, an increase of 35% from the previous year. Among transportation goods, South Carolina purchased $134 million in motor vehicle parts (excluding engines) and $26 million in railway trains.

A mutually beneficial chemical reaction...
Chemicals represented the second largest trade sector in 2004, with bilateral exchange totaling $479 million. The state sold $238 million in chemical products to Canada, led by $63 million in unshaped plastics and $41 million in synthetic and reclaimed rubber. In turn, the Palmetto State purchased $241 million in Canadian chemicals, including $86 million in synthetic rubber and plastics.

The Palmetto State helped Canada to get its bearings...
Bilateral trade in machinery increased by $132 million last year, totaling $468 million. South Carolina sold $225 million worth of machinery to Canada in 2004. This included a whopping $32 million in bearings, followed by $11 million in plastics and chemical industry equipment, and $9 million in tractor engines and parts. The state’s purchases of Canadian machinery totaled $243 million and included $48 million in metalworking machinery and $25 million in engines and turbines.

Manufacturing strong ties...
Textiles were a strong contributor to the Canada-South Carolina relationship—the sector generated $363 million in bilateral trade in 2004. The state’s $271 million in sales to Canada consisted mainly of $56 million in man-made textiles, $55 million in yarn and thread, and $29 million in rubber fabricated materials. In turn, Canada sold the Palmetto State $92 million in textiles. Of these goods, $73 million was in yarn, thread, cordage, twine and rope.

Fun in the sun...
Canadians flocked to South Carolina last year, spending $175 million while on their 398,100 visits to the state. In turn, South Carolinians made 73,800 visits to Canada, generating $42 million for the Canadian economy.

South Carolina's Leading Exports to Canada
2004, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Motor vehicle parts, not including engines ($374)
• Automobiles ($228)
• Valves ($83)
• Air conditioning & refrigeration equipment ($80)
• Motor vehicle engine parts ($77)
• Unshaped plastics ($63)
• Yarn & thread ($55)
• House furnishings ($54
• Paper & paperboard ($52)
• Photographic film ($42)

South Carolina's Leading Imports from Canada
2004, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Motor vehicle parts, not including engines ($134)
• Synthetic rubber & plastics ($86)
• Yarn, thread, cordage, twine & rope ($73)
• Organic chemicals ($68)
• Scrap iron & steel ($51)
• Metalworking machinery ($48)
• Basic metal products ($47
• Wood pulp ($45)
• Containers ($45)
• Softwood lumber ($44)

Canada-South Carolina Success Stories

4everSports is the Nova Scotia-based maker of the TeePod™, an Internet-based, solar-powered wireless kiosk golf course management system. The company recently partnered with the southeast regional division of Hilton Hotels to establish its technology at a golf course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina managed by the hotel chain.

South Carolina-Canada Facts at a Glance:

• State jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 69,000

July 2005

For more information on Canada's trade with South Carolina, please contact:
Consulate of Canada
3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: (919) 573-1808   •   Fax: (919) 573-1809
www.raleigh.gc.ca

Sources: Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.3015. Job numbers are based on 2001 data from a 2003 study by Trade Partnership Worldwide commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada's export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

• Read the 2004 state trade figures
• Read the 2003 state trade figures
• Read the 2002 state trade figures