ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI), a global leader in the animal health industry headquartered in St. Joseph, to announce that Missouri export sales reached $14.1 billion in 2014, the second highest year on record after 2012. Exports of Missouri products were up 9 percent over the previous year.

“This is great news for our economy and another testament to our efforts to sell the Made in Missouri brand worldwide,” Gov. Nixon said. “The world wants what Missouri makes, and there is no better example of how Missouri is competing and winning in the new global economy than Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s continued expansion right here in the Heartland. The more products companies like this one sell overseas, the more jobs they create at home – and that’s why increasing exports will continue to be a top priority.”

BIVI, a subsidiary of the global Boehringer Ingelheim Corp., has been headquartered in St. Joseph since 1981. The company is a worldwide leader in biological research, development, and manufacturing for the animal health business, with the St. Joseph location dedicated to the production, distribution and administrative operation for animal vaccines. Approximately 60 percent of the animal-health products manufactured at BIVI in St. Joseph are exported globally.

Because of increased global demand for its products, the company has increased its workforce by 484 since 2008 and invested approximately $173.3 million since 2009. In 2012, BIVI announced a $79 million expansion that is creating 115 jobs and included construction of a new $28.7 million, 300,000-square-foot packaging and distribution warehouse.

“It’s St. Joe companies like Boehringer and Triumph Foods that are seizing opportunities for growth beyond our own borders and establishing a larger customer base,” said Patt Lilly, President of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “This activity strengthens the Northwest region of our state and contributes to our successful business environment.”

Missouri’s top export products are transportation equipment, chemicals, food and kindred products, machinery and electrical components. The top markets for Missouri exports are Canada, Mexico, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The company has more than 950 Missouri-based employees and 2,000 employees in the U.S. With its animal health national headquarters located in St. Joseph, the company manufactures and markets an extensive line of high-quality biological and pharmaceutical products for cattle, swine, horses, and pets for a worldwide network.

“We are very proud to contribute to Missouri’s economic success, especially when it comes to exports, which continue to be an important driver of our growth,” said Dr. Albrecht Kissel, President and CEO of BIVI. “With a highly skilled workforce, sound transportation infrastructure, an outstanding quality of life and a business-friendly climate, Missouri and the KC Animal Health Corridor provide an ideal location for BIVI to serve a worldwide customer base. We thank the Governor and the state of Missouri for their ongoing support of our company, and the commitment to enhancing Missouri’s global competitiveness.”