For the past two decades, the headline story for Alaska's export industries has been the dramatic rise of China as a buyer of the state's natural resource commodities. In 2002, when WTC Anchorage made China opportunities a focus of our work, very few Alaskan were thinking about doing business with China. After all, in 2002, our exports to China amounted to just over $100 million. Not much to get excited about, right? But, our time on the ground in China told us that China needed everything we have to offer on our export menu and we started beating the drum about opportunities that lay ahead for Alaskan exporters. Since 2011 and, today, at $1.3 billion, China is the state's largest export market. In virtually every major export category, the Middle Kingdom is the state's top overseas customer. 

Since 2002, WTC Anchorage has conducted eleven annual Alaska-China Business Conferences. Planning is currently underway for the 12th Annual Alaska-China business conference to be conducted in Anchorage in January 2019. In addition, WTC has led three trade missions of Alaskan business and government leaders to China. 

Below is a pie chart depicting Alaska's top exports to China by specific commodity.