TRADE

Strong Growth Predicted for California Exports: The state’s exports are expected to grow strongly next year, partly because of healthy demand from fast-growing Asian-Pacific economies, a Bank of America report said. BofA’s International Trade Bank division forecast that California merchandise exports will rise 16% next year to $110 billion. That follows an estimated 17.5% increase in California exports this year to $95 billion. California is already the top exporting state in the nation and its exports are growing more quickly than those of the country as a whole. U.S. exports are expected to grow by about 10% in 1996 after a 12% rise in 1995, the report said.