MANATEE -- New figures rank Florida as the nation’s fourth largest export state even as facilities like Port Manatee ready themselves for an increase in traffic expected from the Panama Canal expansion.

The state’s exports grew by nearly 18 percent in 2009-10 from the previous year, moving it into fourth place behind Texas (1), California (2) and New York (3), according to U.S. Department of Commerce figures.

Although the number of exports at Port Manatee are overshadowed by its imports, Steve Tyndal, senior director of trade development and special projects, says the overall growth in state exports shows there is great potential for Port Manatee to grow.

“Florida exports are typically high value, and high value cargo is more often shipped in containers,” Tyndal said. “We want to get in that business for a variety of reasons, it creates more revenue for the port, but also creates more jobs for the region.”

The port soon will be completing the final part of a nearly $200 million, 11-year expansion when it begins dredging Berth 12 in April to a depth of 41 feet and extending it from 1,000 feet to 1,584 feet to accommodate container vessels.

The new berth sits adjacent to a planned 52-acre container terminal on the port’s south side that is all part of the port’s plans to take advantage of the completion of the Panama Canal expansion in 2014.

Phase one of the container terminal project will begin this year, according to Tyndal, with expected completion by 2014.

Tyndal said the port’s expansion will “let container lines and shippers know we are serious about establishing ourself in the container business.”

Florida’s move up in export rankings shows the state is serious about becoming a major international trade player, officials say.

“Being ranked above four states in as little as six years is a tremendous feat in trade,” said Manny Mencía, Enterprise Florida’s senior vice president overseeing its International Trade & Business Development division. Enterprise Florida is the state’s economic development arm.

Since December, the agency has opened offices in São Paulo, Brazil, and Montreal, and is hosting export sales missions to Chile and Peru in May.

The overall growth in U.S. exports last year came after a dip for most ports because of the country’s financial crisis, said John Murphy, vice president for international affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

“It hammered international trade more than the rest of the economy except maybe housing,” he said.

“Credit markets seized up and globally we saw 20 and 30 percent declines (in trade),” Murphy said. “Last year the U.S. and other countries came roaring back.”

Florida’s exports had dropped 13.6 percent in 2008-09 from the previous year.

The value of the dollar, lower tariffs and stronger economic growth has increased exports, Murphy said.

He thinks Florida has been very aggressive in growing its international trade, particularly with South American countries and the Caribbean.

That’s a change from the past when in the early 1990s, the state was a minor trade partner.

“The state of Florida is well positioned with the widening of the canal, which will make trade even cheaper,” he said.

More companies overall are looking to export, says Sandra Campbell, director of the U.S. Commercial Service with the Department of Commerce, a trade promotion agency in Clearwater.

“Our goal is to steadily grow our exports in the next five years,” she said. “We are the gateway for the Caribbean and South America.”