Alaska's exports for 2007 were valued at $3.9 billion, down 3.8 percent from the 2006 record-high $4 billion. Still, it was the second best year for exports, said Gov. Sarah Palin.

While zinc and gold exports rose significantly in 2007, the value of Cook Inlet gas supply exports decreased and affected the value-added exports of liquefied natural gas and fertilizer.

State officials said the value of Alaska's 2007 energy exports - primarily jet fuel, liquid natural gas and coal - dropped 10.6 percent to $232 million, while the value of refined petroleum products - mostly jet fuel - rose 41 percent to $131 million.

Jet fuel was exported to China, Canada, Taiwan and Korea. LNG exports to Japan from Alaska were valued at $94 million in 2007, down 39.7 percent from the previous year.

Seafood producers saw exports of $1.98 billion, down 1.9 percent from a year earlier, but still the second highest ever.

Higher priced gold plus an increase in export volume resulted in a 20.3 percent increase to $132 million for Alaska's 2007 export of precious metals, with Switzerland being the major market for gold.

High prices also boosted the value of Alaska's zinc and lead ore exports by 8.5 percent to $1.2 billion in 2007, another record for the state. The Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska is the world's largest zinc mine producer.

Constraints on Cook Inlet natural gas availability led to closure of Agrium's fertilizer plant in Kenai last December. Total 2007 exports of fertilizer to Korea, Mexico and Chile prior to closure were worth $92 million.

Alaska seafood exports to Japan were down 18.9 percent, to $588 million, while exports to China rose 27.1 percent to $411 million. Exports to Korea dropped 14 percent to $306 million.

State officials attributed the increase in exports to China to that country's growing role in reprocessing for re-export. Alaska seafood is now also available in retail sectors of more than a dozen cities in China. Seafood exports to Europe accounted for nearly a quarter of the value of all the state's 2007 seafood exports, compared to less than 6 percent a decade ago.

Increased demand in Europe for Alaska seafood is linked to the value those markets place on healthy, traceable, sustainable fisheries and the strength of the Euro, state officials said.

The value of Alaska's 2007 forest product exports was $86 million, down 23.1 percent. The bulk of those exports were to Japan, Korea and China. State officials said the decline in forest product exports reflects the fact that resources on most private lands are reaching the end of their first rotation.