Premier Lara Giddings has welcomed today's ABS export figures
which show that in March 2012 Tasmania recorded $336 million in international
exports, the strongest monthly result in almost 2 years.

Ms Giddings said that Tasmania had recorded international
merchandise exports over the year to March 2012 of $3.24
billion.

"While exports have been relatively flat over the past year, in
recent months there has been a noticeable pick up.

"Just over the past quarter the value of overseas exports is up
by 12 per cent compared to the same time last year.

"This is a very strong result given the ongoing pressures of the
high Australian dollar and sea freight challenges being faced by our local
exporters.

"We are continuing to see very strong demand out of China, which
represents around 28% of total overseas exports when we include Hong
Kong. Our exports have also been strengthened recently by a pickup in the
United States.

"Overwhelming our strongest export products continue to be our
mineral resources while we are also seeing solid growth in dairy and vehicles
including underground mining equipment and vessels," Ms Giddings
said.

Ms Giddings said that the latest export figures provide further
evidence of the resilience of the Tasmanian economy against very challenging
business conditions.