The total value of Alabama goods exported for the 2012 calendar year was $19.5 billion, a 9.36 percent increase from 2011, according to a statement from Gov. Robert Bentley’s office released Monday, Feb. 11.

Germany became the second largest destination market, with $2.5 billion in sales. This is a significant increase from 2011, with 30 percent growth from $1.9 billion in 2011.

Transportation equipment was the state’s largest merchandise export category with $7.65 billion in sales, which is 27 percent growth from 2011. Vehicles, which were shipped to over 80 countries and totaled over $5.8 billion in total sales, accounted for 30 percent of transportation equipment exports.

 Gov. Bentley also said in a tweet on Feb. 12 that, “580,295 jobs in Alabama are created by agriculture and forestry with an economic impact of $70.4 billion.”

Since 2009, Alabama exports have increased 59 percent.