Home Trade and Investment State Trade Fact Sheets 2006 Kentucky

Kentucky

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• Canada–U.S. trade supported 5.2 million U.S. jobs
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $461 billion
• Canada-Kentucky trade supported 69,000 U.S. jobs
• Canadians made more than 280,800 visits to Kentucky, spending $29 million
• Kentucky residents made 71,600 visits to Canada, spending $35 million

Southern Hospitality
A whopping 34% of Kentucky's exports went to Canada in 2005, maintaining Canada's status as the state's most important and lucrative foreign market. With exports of $4.7 billion, Kentucky sold more to Canada than to its next five largest partners combined. Overall cross border exchanges totaled $8.8 billion, an increase of 7% from the previous year.

Get your motor running
The automotive industry is an economic powerhouse in Kentucky which is the fourth largest producer of cars and trucks in the U.S. As a result, Kentucky exported $865 million worth of trucks, $727 million worth of motor vehicle parts (exluding engines), and $605 million worth of cars to Canada, making transportation the state's leading export sector. While North America's most popular cars and trucks are assembled in Kentucky, the engines and parts are supplied by Canada. Kentucky imported over $1.2 billion worth of engines and parts, an increase of 4% from the previous year. While Canada relies on Kentucky for its finished cars and trucks, Canada increasingly provides the parts to make it happen, keeping trade on both sides of the border in drive.

Guys and Dolls
In 2005 Kentucky's shipments of personal and household products totaled $419 million. Kentucky provided Canadian parents with much needed respite from their restless kids, with sales of $86 million in games, toys and children's vehicles.

Chemical Exchanges
Cross border trade in chemicals increased by 38% to $1.2 billion in 2005 with $600 million in state exports and $629 million in imports. The Bluegrass State favored Canadian synthetic rubber and plastics worth $148 million while supplying $203 million in organic chemicals to its northern neighbor.

And they're off
Canadians raced to the home of the Kentucky Derby in record numbers in 2005, making an impressive 280,800 visits and spending $29 million. In return, Kentucky residents made 71,600 visits, spending $35 million enjoying the scenic beauty of its northern neighbor.

Kentucky's Leading Exports to Canada
2005, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Trucks ($865)
• Motor vehicle parts* ($727)
• Automobiles ($605)
• Organic chemicals ($203)
• Unshaped plastics ($164)
• Aluminum, including alloys ($104)
• Steel plate, sheet & strip ($97)
• Games, toys & children's vehicles ($86)
• Containers ($71)
• Aircraft engines & parts ($64)

*not including engines

Kentucky's Leading Imports from Canada
2005, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Motor vehicle parts* ($820)
• Aluminum, including alloys ($488)
• Motor vehicle engines & parts ($340)
• Synthetic rubber & plastics ($148)
• Metal fabricated basic products ($131)
• Nickel & alloys ($118)
• Softwood lumber ($95)
• Organic chemicals ($85)
• Containers ($69)
• Newsprint ($64)

*not including engines

Canada-Kentucky Success Stories

Gallatin Steel, Dofasco's joint venture in Ghent, Kentucky, was named one of 2006 "Best Places to Work" by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the State Council of the Kentucky Society for Human Resources Management. Gallatin Steel is a flat-rolled carbon steel producer which employs about 430 people. It placed 16^th in the large company division.

Cosma International, a subsidiary of Magna International of Ontario, recently expanded its Bowling Green, Kentucky location. The 900,000 square foot facility employs 1,100 and manufactures frames for the automotive industry.

The 2006 Kentucky Derby featured early favorite "Brother Derek," owned by Calgary oilman Cecil Peacock. While the three-year old colt finished fourth in the race, he wasn't the only horse with Canadian connections. Seaside Retreat, who finished 10^th, is stabled at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto and was ridden by Brampton, Ontario native Patrick Husbands. Alberta's Johnny Longden rode Count Fleet to victory in the 1943 Kentucky Derby and went on to win the Triple Crown. Northern Dancer, a Canadian horse, won the Derby in 1966 and in 1983, Sunny's Halo, a Canadian horse, won the Derby.

Each year, Western Kentucky University, in Bowling Green, sponsors a highly acclaimed Canadian parliamentary Internship Program. In 2006, 36 students from over a dozen US universities were placed with Members of Parliament in Ottawa, while two more students were placed with the National Assembly of Québec. Since the program began, students have met the Prime Minister, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Cabinet Ministers and visiting foreign dignitaries. The program prepares students for careers in public service, law and academia.

Kentucky-Canada Facts at a Glance:

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

June 2006

For more information on Canada's trade with Kentucky, please contact:
Consulate General of Canada
600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1100
Detroit, MI 48243-1798
Phone: (313) 567-2340   •   Fax: (313) 567-2164
www.detroit.gc.ca

Sources: Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.2116. Merchandise trade data is customs-based for the year 2005. 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 2005 state trade figures
• Read the 2004 state trade figures
• Read the 2003 state trade figures
• Read the 2002 state trade figures