CONCORD, NH – Winter and festive consumer goods made in New Hampshire are in demand in global markets, from candles and chocolates to boots and ski equipment, according to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA).
New Hampshire’s export value reached a record $7.3 billion in 2022, and is on track to reach, or surpass, that by the end of the year, said Adam Boltik, program manager for BEA’s Office of International Commerce. While the state’s top export last year was electrical machinery, there are hundreds of New Hampshire products for which demand is growing in the global marketplace.
“Ski equipment is an example of that,” he said. “The export value for all of 2022 was just $57,000; this year, as of October, the value is nearly $2 million.”
Ski equipment exports to Canada went from $30,409 in 2022 to $1.7 million as of October, which is the latest available data). Japan when from spending nothing on New Hampshire made ski equipment last year to $186,282 and coming in third is Slovenia, which spent $38,000 as of October, a 60 percent increase over last year.
As of the October data, New Hampshire candle exports already surpass 2022, coming in at $512,000, up from $485,000 last year. While Italy and Germany are the top two exporters of candles made here, the Netherlands and Norway went from spending nothing in 2022, to $77,000 and $70,000 respectively.
Boots made in New Hampshire as of September have also surpassed last year’s export total of $1 million. Defined as footwear with outer rubber sole and leather upper, boots’ export value as of September is $1.5 million. Mexico ($713,000) and Latvia ($400,000) are the top markets this year; neither country spent any money last year.
The export value of chocolate made in New Hampshire was $30 million in 2022 and, at $30.7 million as of October, has exceeded last year’s total. The largest markets are Canada ($20 million), Mexico ($5.7 million), and Australia ($2.6 million). New Hampshire is the 12th largest exporter of chocolate in the nation.
“In the context of the holiday season, this is an interesting snapshot of New Hampshire’s place in the global market,” Boltik said. “There are people around the world who will receive candles, ski equipment, chocolate, and boots labeled ‘Made in New Hampshire’ and that is pretty cool.”