HELENA — State officials say Montana’s commodity exports held steady last year at $1.6 billion.
The Department of Commerce says the 2012 figure matches the record set last year and is a 13 percent increase over 2008.
Canada remains the state’s top export destination, followed by South Korea, China and Belgium.
Taiwan maintained its No. 5 position, while exports to Switzerland jumped 871 percent based on strong coal sales.
Mexico, Japan, Germany and the Philippines round out the state’s top 10 export destinations.
Bulk wheat is the state’s top export commodity, followed by coal and oil.
Milling products such as malt barley, plus pharmaceutical products, edible vegetables and cattle exports showed strong increases above last year.