ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Southern New Mexico has dethroned the central region of the state as New Mexico's No.1 export zone thanks to a booming border port and declining activity at Intel Corp.
The Albuquerque Journal reports a recent U.S. Commerce Department report showed exports from the Albuquerque metropolitan area plummeted 43 percent last year, from $1.76 billion in 2015 to $1 billion in 2016.
Meanwhile, Dona Ana County's exports declined by only 1.5 percent, to $1.57 billion, making it the state's largest export zone for the first time.
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Trade Alliance manager Randy Trask says Albuquerque's fall from grace is not a reflection of export stagnation in the metro area, but rather indicates the apparent shrinking role of the Rio Rancho computer chip manufacturer in the local economy.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com