PORTLAND (AP) – Maine companies that export goods are cashing in on the strength of the euro versus the U.S. dollar.

“Any exporter benefits -period,” said Jeffrey Porter, a U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist.

“Suddenly something you’re selling for a dollar a pound is costing 30 percent less than what it was a year ago. It’s a huge advantage, and they’ve had to do nothing,” said Porter, who works out of a Portland office.

Most Maine exporters sell their goods in dollars. In most of the European Union countries, where the currency is the euro, customers can buy more goods per euro than they did a year ago.

It’s giving Maine exporters more competitive muscle against European rivals that operate and sell in euros.

Each euro is now worth $1.17, compared to early last year, when each euro was worth 89 cents.

One beneficiary of the tipped exchange rate is Claw Island Foods in South Portland, which expects to increase its sales in Europe by 40 percent this year.

“This year, with the devaluation of the dollar, we’re seeing a lot more interest in our products across the board,” said Emily Lane, Claw Island’s export sales and marketing manager.

At the recent Brussels Seafood Exposition, said Lane, some repeat customers were buying twice as much lobster as they did last year.

In some instances, exporters can increase prices and still sell the same volume of product because the price in euros has not changed.

The euro-dollar exchange edge is particularly welcome as much of the U.S. domestic market remains sluggish.

In the case of Martin Wendell, general manager at Sea Fresh USA Inc., the exchange rate “is allowing me to stay stable, which is important at this point.”

Maine tourism could also benefit from the strong euro, according to trade officials. Europeans who want to take advantage of favorable exchange rates will vacation here, and U.S. residents may decide to postpone trips to Europe because of higher costs and travel domestically instead.

Not all Maine businesses are enjoying a bump from the exchange rate. Businesses that import from Europe are seeing costs jump.

“The stronger euro will immediately impact our costs of (imported) raw materials on goods manufactured in Maine,” said Norma Wilkins-Gross, vice president of product development for Cuddledown in Portland.

“In some instances we have experienced as much as a 22 percent change in the cost of goods over the previous years,” said Wilkins-Gross, whose catalog-based business distributes fine linens and bedding.

AP-ES-06-22-03 1311EDT