Now for the rest of our trade picture. . .
Top exports are fish, crude oil and natural gas, lumber, metal mining, and petroleum products.
Competition in the global seafood market, combined with lower than average sockeye harvest and economic difficulties in Asia is leading to decreased seafood exports both in volume and in value. Beginning in 1996, after the North Slope crude oil export ban was lifted, oil exports became very important to Alaska s trade picture. With the current low price of oil, this decrease in value will continue. Closure of the Alaska Pulp Corporation pulp mill in Ketchikan, and Japan s economy and its decrease in housing starts, has led to major declines in forest product exports. Nevertheless, Japan was Alaska s major market for timber.