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Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co. increased its exports with distribution contracts in several countries.

(MLive File Photo)

LANSING — From beer to blueberries to basketball courts, Michigan companies sold more goods to foreign countries last year, placing it among 16 states to set export records in 2013.

The Great Lakes state ranked 8th in total merchandise exports with $58.5 billion in 2013, up 3 percent from 2012, according to recently released federal trade statistics.

"These export numbers show that Michigan exporters continue to take advantage of international growth opportunities to diversify their market portfolios and grow their businesses, which benefits the local economy," Kendra Kuo, acting director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Grand Rapids, said in a statement. "By selling internationally, many of these exporters are better able to weather changes in the economy while building their global competitiveness and supporting jobs here at home."

Canada received about 44 percent of Michigan's exports in 2013, followed by Mexico with 21 percent, China with 7 percent, Germany with 3 percent and Japan with 2 percent.

Transportation equipment accounts for nearly half of all Michigan's export dollars at $28.9 billion, followed by $5.1 billion in machinery (except electrical), $4.5 billion in chemicals, $3.1 billion in computer and electronic products and $2.5 billion in primary metal manufacturing, according to the International Trade Administration.

Nationally, merchandise exports grew 2 percent to $1.6 trillion last year. That's up 50 percent from 2009. The total value of U.S. goods and services exported in 2013 was $2.3 trillion, up nearly $700 billion since 2009.

While exports have increased, it doesn't appear they'll reach President Barack Obama's 2010 goal of doubling exports by 2015. He also called for adding 2 million export-supported jobs by the end of 2014. About 9.8 million jobs were supported by exports in 2012, the most recent data available. That's up 1.3 million since 2009.

"We know for a fact, that for every $1 billion in exports nearly 5,000 jobs are supported across our nation, and with more than 95 percent of the world's potential consumers residing outside our borders, exports will continue to be an important driver of the local and national economy," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said in a statement.

Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Google+ and Twitter: @MelissaDAnders. Download the MLive app for iPhone and Android.