To Export or Not To Export

Why should a small US manufacturer make the effort to export their products if they are successful in selling them locally? The best answer to that question lies with statistics. 95% of the world’s consumers live outside of the US. In 2007 the US exported $1.16 trillion in goods. $38.3 billion of that was industrial machinery (including packaging machinery). America’s number one trading partner was Canada. They imported $248.4 billion of U.S. goods that year, which made up 21.4% of all US exports. Mexico came in second place importing $130.5 billion from the US, adding another 11.7%. Therefore, over one-third of US exports never moved farther than North America.

If you are not currently exporting and are afraid to ‘take the plunge’, consider the opportunity you may be missing. If you don’t have the resources to research and set up marketing channels to other countries, think about just adding one new country. Canada is the easiest and best choice. They predominately speak English, are a part of the North America Free Trade Agreement, and offer a great potential for sales growth. Also, Canada’s culture is probably the most similar to the US.

Don’t let an opportunity to increase your sales pass you by. Your local office of the U.S. Department of Commerce offers numerous programs and assistance, either free or at a nominal cost. In this global economy no company can afford to ignore the sales potential offered through exporting.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at http://www.neminc.com/.