According to data recently released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, exports from the Pittsburgh region increased dramatically between 2010 and 2011.  Total exports from the region increased by almost 25 percent, outpacing all of our benchmark regions. 

In fact, total exports increased 82 percent between 2009 and 2011 from $8.3 billion to $15.2 billion. Coal, steel and chemicals are the Pittsburgh region's three principal export products.