Mass. high-tech exports on a bumpy road!

The slowdown impinges upon key Bay State sectors. Certainly this is something to watch.

The technology trade association AeA has released Trade in the Cyberstates 2008, its annual national and state trend report on global trade of high-tech products.

Compared to other states, Massachusetts ranks fifth in most high-tech exports in 2007, bringing in $8.7 billion — an almost 10 percent decrease from the $9.6 billion in high-tech exports the state gained in 2006. Leading the export sectors were industrial electronics, in which Massachusetts ranked third in the nation, and electromedical equipment, which the state is ranked fourth in the country. The report also found that Massachusetts high-tech exports added 30,300 jobs to the state.

The state’s $8.7 billion represents 35 percent of the state’s total tech exports. The leading destinations for state exports are Japan, Germany and Canada.

On a national basis, high-tech goods exported had decreased three percent in 2007, which marks 18 percent of the nation’s total exports. High-tech imports to the U.S. had increased 3 percent in 2007.