Eight Alabama companies were recognized today for excellence in international trade by Gov. Robert Bentley during the Trade Excellence Awards in Montgomery.
Coordinated by the state Department of Commerce and Export Alabama Alliance, the nine-year-old Governor's Trade Excellence Awards Program highlights small, medium, large and new-to-export businesses across the state.
In a news release, Bentley said Alabama exports last year topped $19.3 billion, which is a 57 percent increase since 2009. In 2013, state companies shipped products to approximately 200 countries.
The top export markets for businesses in Alabama are the United Kingdom, Mexico, China, Germany and Canada.
"Alabama products are among the best in the country, and the companies recognized today show how successful Alabama products are reaching the global marketplace," Bentley said.