Competing Smarter

Indianapolis has been named a leader among the country's exporting elite, according to a study by the Brookings Institution.

The Brookings Institution’s recently released study ranks the nation’s 100 largest metro areas on exports in 2008, and between 2003 and 2008.

The Indianapolis area ranks 20th in the value of exports produced in 2008 and ninth in the share of the local economy that came from exports, according to the report.

"To have that much of your (Gross Metropolitan Product) going abroad means that Indianapolis is in the export business," said Jennifer Bradley, co-director of the Brookings Institution's Great Lakes Economic Initiative. "Indianapolis is in the global economy."

Key findings from the study:

• An estimated 85,159 jobs in the Indianapolis area were supported by exports in 2008
• Nearly one in 10 jobs in the Indianapolis area rely on exports
• Currently, the U.S. imports more than it exports
• U.S. metro areas are leading the nation in export production
• Indianapolis' largest export industry is chemicals, which includes pharmaceuticals produced by Eli Lilly and Co.

Indianapolis’ major export industries:

• Chemical Manufacturing
• Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
• Machinery Manufacturing
• Royalties from Intellectual Property
• Medical Equipment
• Sporting Goods
• Jewelry
• Misc. Manufacturing

How Indianapolis compares to its surrounding cities:

Indianapolis
Annual Exports: $12.8 billion (Rank 20)
Exports as Share of GMP: 15.2% (Rank 9)

Chicago
Annual Exports: $52.9 billion (Rank 3)
Exports as Share of GMP: 10.9% (Rank 45)

Louisville
Annual Exports: $6.7 billion (Rank 44)
Exports as Share of GMP: 12.6% (Rank 27)

Cincinnati
Annual Exports: $11.8 billion (Rank 22)
Exports as Share of GMP: 12.9% (Rank 24)

St. Louis
Annual Exports: $14.6 billion (Rank 18)
Exports as Share of GMP: 12.1 % (Rank 35)

Detroit
Annual Exports: $26.9 billion (Rank 9)
Exports as Share of GMP: 14.7% (Rank 12)

Indianapolis' Export Profile Report

Read the Indy Star's article on this report