National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones Announces 2012 Export Award Recipients

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) has presented its top annual private-sector export awards to three outstanding American exporters. BMW Manufacturing received both the 2012 Export Achievement Award and, for the second consecutive year, the 2012 Top Exporter of the Year Award. Subaru of Indiana was recognized with the 2012 Export Growth Award. DNP Electronics America is the recipient of the 2012 Export Innovator Award.  In addition, the City of El Paso's Foreign-Trade Zone No. 68 won the General Purpose Zone Export Achievement Award.

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"I am very pleased to recognize the accomplishments of these outstanding American exporters," said Lewis Leibowitz, NAFTZ Chairman. "They demonstrate what is possible through use of the FTZ program and serve as an inspiration to other firms, large and small, to expand their horizons and capitalize on their export potential – creating more business for American communities and more jobs for American workers."

BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant (Subzone 38A) currently produces over 1,000 vehicles each day and is the exclusive exporter of X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe through the Port of Charleston. This year, the plant is projected to produce more than 300,000 vehicles and will export approximately 70% of those vehicles to more than 130 global markets.

BMW Manufacturing was the top exporter of the year in FY 2010, with $5.239 billion in exports. The company also qualified for the export achievement award by having the largest nominal increase in exports of any FTZ subzone. Exports from the South Carolina facility increased by $2.14 billion in FY 2010, growing from $3.099 billion in FY 09 to $5.239 billion in FY 10.

Sky Foster, Manager for Corporate Communications at BMW Manufacturing, said "We are very proud of our accomplishments. I wish to thank our associates, Tier 1 Suppliers and the South Carolina Ports Authority for their support in our shared success."

Since beginning production in 1994, BMW Manufacturing has produced over 2 million vehicles. Earlier this year, the company announced another $900 Million expansion that will increase capacity to 350,000 units by 2014 and bring a new model to its Spartanburg operation.

Subaru of Indiana's Subzone 72H, located in Lafayette, is a subzone of Indianapolis Zone 72, operated by Greater Indianapolis FTZ, Inc. In FY 2010, Subaru of Indiana showed the largest percentage increase in exports of any NAFTZ member subzone – an increase of 410%, from $39.87 million in FY 2009 to $203.29 million in FY 2010.

Subaru of Indiana manufactures the Subaru Outback, Legacy, and Tribeca line of vehicles and is the only Subaru auto assembly plant in the United States. SIA Associates also build the Toyota Camry through a business collaboration with Toyota.

DNP Electronics America, LLC was established in 2001 to manufacture, market, and sell optical screens for the North American rear projection television market. Since then, the firm has expanded its product line considerably. The Chula Vista, California, facility manufactures, warehouses, and distributes projection televisions screens and its foreign-trade subzone 153C was approved in July 2005 and has since expanded its scope of FTZ operations five times. Approximately 700,000 screens were exported from the facility in 2009. The operation is fully automated and utilizes electronic In-Bond filing (known as QP/WP) to expedite its export shipment process. DNP Electronics America has helped to attract new export activity to the Chula Vista facility through use of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program.

FTZ No. 68. The largest foreign-trade zone operation along the US/Mexico border, El Paso's Zone No. 68 is managed by Jose Quinonez, Foreign-Trade Zone Manage for El Paso International Airport. From FY 2009 to FY 2010, exports from the Zone increased by 168 percent – from $643 million to $1.727 billion. As of FY 2010, 30 businesses were operating in the zone.

The awards were presented at NAFTZ's 40th Annual Conference & Exposition, held recently in San Diego, California. 

"The U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program is a valuable strategic tool that many American companies can use to compete more effectively in world markets," said NAFTZ President Daniel Griswold. "NAFTZ encourages all firms involved in global trade to explore how foreign-trade zones can help them succeed and we stand ready to provide whatever assistance we can."

The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones is a not-for-profit trade association of 650 members representing public and private organizations involved in the foreign-trade zones program, including state and local governments, economic development organizations, distribution and warehouse firms, corporations engaged in exporting and importing, and legal services and professional consulting firms. FTZs play an important role in facilitating international trade and increasing the global competitiveness of U.S.-based companies by maintaining the cost competitiveness of U.S.-based operations with their foreign-based competitors. Over 2,400 U.S. companies and 320,000 American workers participate in the FTZ economy. NAFTZ is the primary voice of communities and industries that utilize the FTZ program, including zone grantees, operators and users.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Brian Hannigan, Smith Dawson & Andrews
202-835-0740 [email protected]
Brian Picone, NAFTZ
202-331-1950 [email protected]  

SOURCE National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones