GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The U.S. Census Bureau said Friday that the value of Wisconsin’s exports rose by 4.4 percent in 2012, compared to the previous year.

According to the new report, just over $23 billion worth of products were exported from the state’s ports at Milwaukee, Green Bay, Superior, and the Mississippi River. And Wisconsin’s increase was a bit lower than the national increase of 4.5 percent.

Observers say the figures are somewhat deceiving, because they only consider the amount of products exported from each state’s shipping facilities – and not the value of the items actually grown or produced in the individual states.

But the Census Bureau’s criteria remains the same – and therefore, its data can equally be compared from year-to-year.

Wisconsin officials keep tab on the exports of items actually produced in the Badger State.