Florida's Export Players - Big and Small

Rochelle Broder-Singer | 8/15/2011

» Marketing Arm International, Port Charlotte

More than 95% of Florida exporters are small and midsized businesses, which account for over 60% of Florida exports — more than any other state.

Port Charlotte-based Marketing Arm International exports environmentally friendly insecticides and fungicides.

Eleven-employee Marketing Arm International exports environmentally friendly biological and botanical insecticides and fungicides to 40 countries. President Jose Lopez has begun entering second-tier Asian markets with similar latitudes, climate conditions and pests as his Central American and southern Mexican customers. Export sales last year rose 34%; in the first quarter of 2011, they rose by another 34%.

» AppRiver, Gulf Breeze

AppRiver sells web-based IT security services and applications primarily to small- and midsized businesses. Around 15% of the firm's $27.9 million in annual revenue was from international business in 2010.

» SOHO Network Solutions, Jacksonville

Florida's Standing

No. 4 Florida's rank among exporting states (for in-state origin exports) No. 2 Florida's rank, behind only California, in the number of exporting firms

By the Numbers

28% Florida's share of United States' trade with Latin America and the Caribbean 27% Percentage of Florida-origin exports that involve high-tech equipment 55,000 Number of Florida companies that export, accounting for 19% of all U.S. exporters

SOHO Network Solutions sells crime scene investigation supplies and equipment and assembles crime scene investigation kits from manufacturers and exports them to more than 45 countries. Exports represent 98% of the company's $1.5 million in annual sales, says Vice President Helga Langthon.

» Genicon, Winter Park

Genicon manufactures and exports laparoscopic medical devices. With its largest markets largely in western Europe, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, 85% of the company's business is international.

» Brijot Imaging Devices, Lake Mary

Brijot Imaging Devices manufactures passive whole-body imaging scanners used in airports and sells them around the world. About half of its revenue comes from abroad.

» Baptist Health South Florida, Coral Gables

Baptist Health South Florida is exporting its expertise, advising foreign hospitals on how to set up specialized healthcare facilities.

» Nationwide Equipment, Jacksonville

Nationwide Equipment sells heavy construction, mining and marine equipment primarily to Africa. The company posted $75 million in exports last year — 95% of its business.

» Winslow LifeRaft, Lake Suzy (DeSoto County)

Winslow LifeRaft manufactures the life rafts that Brazil-based aircraft maker Embraer uses in its corporate jets and will soon be supplying life rafts for some of the company's military planes. The company does around 60% of its business outside the U.S., primarily in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

OBM-designed Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in the British Virgin Islands

» OBM International, Miami

Architecture firm OBM International gets 95% of its more than $10 million in annual revenue from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East/North Africa. "Our business across all international markets has grown substantially over the last six months," says Michael Wilson, COO of the 65-employee firm. Exports of services — from consulting to accounting to real estate development to legal services — are hard to measure. But it is estimated that the state exported $29.9 billion worth of services in 2010.