Georgia exports soar to record level

ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia's poultry, aircraft and auto industries helped propel the state's exports to a record $35.8 billion last year.

Georgia ranked 12th nationally in the dollar value of exports by state.

In the southeast, only Florida outpaced Georgia in the shipment of goods overseas.

The figures were reported Monday by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Canada, China, Mexico, Singapore and Japan were Georgia's top export destinations in 2012, tallying 42 percent of all products shipped overseas.

Cars, airplanes - and their associated parts - and industrial machines have become big business for the state historically renowned for poultry and wood pulp exports.