According to a Commerce Department report, U.S. goods and services exports year-to-date through the first four months of 2012 were up 6.0% or $41.4 billion from the same period of 2011 to reach $725.8 billion.

“U.S. exports posted their second-highest level on record in April, and despite a variety of global economic challenges, exports in the first four months of 2012 continue to exceed their performance of 2011,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson. “At this rate, we are on pace for U.S. exports to exceed $2 trillion for the second year in a row, and are making significant progress to achieving President Obama’s goal of doubling exports by the end of 2014.”

Manufacturing remains a bright spot, as exports of manufactured goods have increased 9.1% year-to-date through April. “We must continue to do everything we can to support U.S. companies in selling their goods and services to the 95% of the world’s potential consumers who live beyond our borders,” Bryson said.