Nevada appears to be on track to set a new record for exports this year, he said.

"It's about the only good news around," DiStefano said.

Nevada is adding relatively high-paying manufacturing jobs while the number of service jobs for the tourism and gambling industry declines, DiStefano said.

DiStefano said 53 percent of exports come from rural areas, mostly as agricultural products such as alfalfa and potatoes and precious metals such as gold and silver. Of the balance, the Reno area accounts for about two-thirds of the total and the other third comes from the Las Vegas area, he said.

Slot machines are exported from both ends of the state. They are part of the toy, game and sporting equipment sector that increased 11 percent.

Industrial machinery exports grew by 38 percent. Furniture, bedding and lamps exports shot up 79 percent.

"Everybody is becoming more aware that we're becoming a global economy and they have to go outside of the United States to grow their business," DiStefano said.

The dollar value of Nevada exports grew from zero to $1.47 billion between 1864 and 2000. Exports from the Silver State hit $5.7 billion last year.

Many manufacturers are relocating to Nevada from other states, including California, DiStefano said.