Category Archives: Export

Export, News

UK Exports to Flanders increased by 18% in 2021 

Flanders Investment & Trade, the official government body for the Flanders region, has published its full-year trade figures for 2021, which reveal that UK exports to Flanders are showing signs of recovery from their post-Brexit decline but some sectors continue to struggle.  

While UK exports to Flanders initially slumped by 15.8% in 2020 following the UK’s formal departure from the EU, UK exports to the region increased by a significant 18% in 2021 to a total value of €14,398,848,000. However, the outlook for 2022 looks more uncertain as UK businesses navigate new and far-reaching post-Brexit measures and global geo-political uncertainty.  

Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, has since established itself as an important gateway to the European single market for UK businesses following Brexit in January 2020. Many UK sectors, including precious stones and metals and jewelry (+169%) and plastics and plastic items (+70.96%) have seen exports to Flanders grow during 2021. In the food and drink sector, while meat and fish have seen a decline in exports, milk and dairy products have seen a 20% increase.  

In January 2021, Flanders announced record levels of investment from UK companies in the region. There has been a 63.33% increase in British companies investing in Flanders in 2021 vs 2020, the fourth consecutive annual increase. Many UK businesses have chosen to set up a base in the region as a strategic single-entry point to export to other EU countries, due to Flanders’ excellent transport connections and location in the heart of Europe’s commercial and industrial centres.  

Despite the overall improvement in exports to Flanders in 2021, some sectors of the UK economy have continued to see a decline in exports to Flanders, including the automotive sector (-11%) and the textiles sector, with clothing and accessories down 41.3%. However, these sectors have also been impacted by the pandemic and other global manufacturing trends. 

Flanders exports to the UK dip by just 2.6%; Flanders sees record total global exports 

One year on from Brexit and total Flemish exports to the UK fell by just 2.59% compared to 2020, confirming Flanders status as a key trade partner for the UK. After an initial drop in the first quarter (-21.76%) following the stockpiling seen in late 2020, exports increased by a dramatic 37.7% in the second quarter, before dipping below zero in the third (-4.5%) and the fourth quarters of 2021 (-6.4%). 

Companies in Flanders exported €380.5 billion worth of goods globally in 2021, an increase of €50 billion (27.6%) on the previous high of €329 billion in 2018. Flanders also outperformed the average for global EU exports (+18.93%) in 2021, showcasing the international trade opportunities Flanders presents as a trading partner for UK businesses.  

 

Astrid Geeraerts, Head of Investment at Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) commented; “While Brexit immediately disrupted business on both sides of the Channel in 2020, British entrepreneurship has won out and exports to Flanders are recovering.  

“FIT has been actively supporting many UK businesses, with our partners in both Flanders and the UK, to help businesses navigate the many challenges that Brexit has presented to exporters to the EU over the past two years. We’re proud that so many UK businesses are successfully exporting to customers in Flanders and Europe following Brexit.” 

 

Claire Tillekaerts, CEO of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), said: “Flanders is one of the most open economies in the world. International business is therefore the lifeblood of our region. By supporting UK businesses in entering the EU via Flanders, we are not only supporting the economy, job creation and prosperity in Flanders, but also play an important role in connecting UK businesses with expansion opportunities in the EU and beyond. The geopolitical situation and world trade have become more turbulent in recent months. The OECD is already forecasting that global economic growth this year will be a full percent lower than estimated before the conflict. Global inflation – which has been at an all-time high since early 2022 – is also expected to rise by a further 2.5%. Together with our partner organisations in the UK and in Flanders, FIT is helping to guide companies through this period of uncertainty and instability.”   

  

Business Advice, Export

Tips For British Business Leaders Operating In Global Retail Markets

Business today is more international than ever due to globalisation, high-speed air travel allowing you to get to the other side of the world within a few hours, and the internet and digital technology breaking down borders and making us more interconnected than ever. E-commerce has revolutionised the way we buy things, and customers can now purchase products and services from anywhere in the world. There are currently many online retail brands operating in the UK. In 2021, the UK’s e-commerce market was the fourth largest in the world, ahead of Germany. Many British retail brands ship items to loyal customers overseas day in, day out. We came up with this piece to provide helpful advice to British business leaders responsible for running online retail brands with significant international customer bases. Carry on reading to learn more.

 

Understand Your International Audience

The earth is home to a fascinating array of different cultures, each with its own unique customs. This cultural diversity will also be reflected in your global customer base. As a business leader running an online retail brand in 2022, you should be aware of how consumer desires and preferences differ in different parts of the globe. But how can you find out more about your international customers and what they are after? One way is by encouraging feedback from your international customers by sending out online customer surveys.

Consumer feedback is an extremely factor in the e-commerce world since it helps online retail businesses be aware of the areas they can improve in. Word the questions carefully to find out what you can do as a business to make things easier and enhance the online customer experience for people living overseas who want to buy your products and services over the internet.

 

The Importance Of Speaking Your Customers’ Language

Successful business leaders often talk about the importance of speaking your customers’ ‘language’, which can take on a literal connotation. Your online customers will want to be able to read the products and services displayed on your website and online stores in their native language. Therefore, it may be wise for online retail businesses with international customer bases to hire translation services. To learn more about an expert accredited translation agency you can depend on, check out Rosetta Translation, which offers translation services in all major languages 24 hours a day.

The amount you spend covering translation services will be relatively small compared to the other things you invest in. Having your online content in multiple different world languages will significantly improve the user experience for your online visitors from all over the world. Retaining the attention of online customers is a matter of presenting things to them that they will have no trouble easily digesting and understanding within seconds. Providing content in their language across your online content should help increase customer engagement and sales conversions.

 

Social Media Helps You Connect With Customers Worldwide

Making the most of marketing your retail business’s products across major social media sites with millions of users across the globe can be a highly effective strategy if you get it right. With a few simple clicks of a button, you can post video clips, stories, photographs, written posts, and motion graphics to followers of your brand’s social media accounts.

However, you must think outside the box and be creative with your content ideas to outcompete your rivals since global online retail is a fiercely competitive industry today. No international online retail firm leader can afford to be a technophobe nowadays. Embrace social media; it’s a powerful tool that can help boost your company’s sales and become your biggest ally.

 

Expect The Unexpected As A Business Leader Today

The world has been faced with unprecedented circumstances in recent years. Business leaders have had to step up to the plate and use lateral thinking to help their business survive and carry on generating profits. Sadly, many companies worldwide have gone under in recent times. If the last few years have taught retail companies anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. You never know what the future may hold, and you can’t foresee major world events that could drastically impact consumer spending habits and global markets.

 

Be A Leader, Not A Sheep

Coming up with original ideas and having their own mind is vital. For business leaders working in online retail today, it’s easy to be a sheep and copy the ideas of others, given that there are so many competitors out there. Try your utmost to be an innovative leader and not a sheep who replicates the ideas of other businesspeople. Being an intelligent leader will make you and your business stand out. However, being a sheep will make you blend in with the rest, and consumers won’t view your company as anything special that they haven’t seen before. Strive for your business to stand out from its market competitors.

 

Look After Your Overseas Staff

If you have a large portion of customers overseas, you may decide to employ people in other countries. As a business leader, your employees are the life and soul of your company, and you won’t be successful without their input and dedication. Therefore, it’s in your interests to look after your staff abroad and treat them with respect.? Fair wages, generous holidays, paid maternity/paternity leave, performance-related bonuses, and making the office environment a pleasant place to work are ways you can show staff abroad that you value them and the work they do.

Keeping a close eye on staff morale is essential when managing people abroad, much like when you’re in charge of employees here in the UK. You certainly don’t want discontent festering amongst your workforce, and a happy workforce is a productive workforce. One idea to boost staff morale is putting on fun work social events where colleagues can get to know one another better.

Remember, what your personnel abroad enjoy doing in their leisure time will depend somewhat on their culture. For instance, in many cultures across the world, consuming alcohol goes against religious beliefs or isn’t the norm, despite work dos in the UK often being events where alcoholic drinks are a feature. If your staff can create bonds at work socials, they’re more likely to gel well and be productive in the workplace.

 

Export, International News, News

Innovative supply chain solution secures £4m in funding to expand in Europe

Flowlity, an innovative AI-based supply chain planning and forecasting solution, has secured 5 million euros (£4.17 million)  in funding, led by Fortino Capital, to expand throughout Europe. 

The funding will be used to accelerate its development with the aim to becoming an industry leader by providing innovate ways of reducing waste across the entire supply chain – enabling companies to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.   

Armed with its innovative AI-based tool, Flowlity is already working with several companies in the manufacturing and retail sectors, such as Saint-Gobain, Miba, and Bosch. For La Redoute, the software has already led to an inventory reduction of 40% and at e-commerce retailer Camif, stock shortages have reduced by 10%. 

In today’s world, traditional JIT (Just-in-time) models are not robust enough to handle increasingly frequent supply chain disruptions. COVID has demonstrated the importance of supply chain planning to manufacturers and the general public around the world, but it has also highlighted a host of problems, including raw materials shortages and increasing lead times. Around $2 trillion dollars are lost every year as a result of overstocking or shortages, all caused by the use of obsolete forecasting models. 

Intending to provide an effective response to the challenges, Flowlity has come to the fold with a new planning and stock optimisation methodology called ‘Resilient Planning’. The solution allows supply chain planners to capture market volatility and react to disruptions in an agile and effective way.  

Jean-Baptiste Clouard, CEO at Flowlity said: “Thanks to support from Fortino Capital, OSS Ventures and 42CAP, we will be able to work with more European companies in their planning challenges to help them to reduce scrap and waste and to reduce their carbon footprint.” 

Filip Van Innis, Investment Director at Fortino Capital said: “We believe Flowlity has a clear strategic focus and an experienced team to accelerate the transformation and digitalisation of supply chain optimisation models across Europe and thereby facilitate a more robust economy.” 

Alexander Meyer, Partner at 42Cap, a Munich-based seed investor, said: “We are delighted to continue to support Flowlity in their European expansion. Since they first launched, we have believed in the power of their platform and their growth potential.” 

2021 was a good year for Flowlity, – as well as featuring among the winners at the 23rd edition of the iLab Innovation Competition, it also expanded internationally by signing the first cross-Atlantic contract and doubling its client portfolio.  

Building on 100%+ growth, Flowlity is continuing its rise in 2022 and is welcoming Peter Schram, former Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, and Edouard Fourcade, former Managing Director EMEA at Anaplan, to the board. To achieve the business objectives, they hope to expand its current team of 30 employees to around 50 by the end of the year. 

 

 

About Flowlity: 

Launched in January 2019 by Jean-Baptiste Clouard and Karim Benchaaboun, Flowlity is an AI-based stock optimization and forecasting solution. With its unique resilient planning approach, Flowlity already works with several large international corporations, including La Redoute, Bosch, Saint-Gobain, and LVMH. After raising €1.7 million in August 2019 with the support of 42CAP and Entrepreneur First, Flowlity was nominated among the 50 best European start-ups by Google and McKinsey. In 2021, the company continued to expand internationally and was a winner at the 23d edition of the i-Lab Innovation Competition. 

To find out more: https://flowlity.com  

 

 

Brexit, Business, EU, Export, News

BCC research finds little love for EU Trade Deal

71% of UK exporters say EU trade deal is not enabling them to grow or increase sales and only 1 in 8 think it is helping them grow or increase sales

New research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce of more than 1000 businesses has highlighted a host of issues with the UK’s trade deal with Europe. The BCC believes urgent steps should be taken to address these problems so the UK Government’s ambition to increase the number of firms exporting can be met.

Overall, just 8% of firms agreed that the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) was ‘enabling their business to grow or increase sales’, while 54% disagreed. For UK exporters, 12% agreed that the TCA was helping them while 71% disagreed.

There is similar discontent with the deal among Welsh businesses, of which 51% trade with countries inside and outside of the EU and 10% solely export products and services to the EU.

Only 9% agreed that the TCA was enabling their business to grow or increase sales, while 59% somewhat or strongly disagreed. When asked which market the UK should pursue trade deals with, 46% of businesses in Wales suggested that the UK Government should prioritise modifying the current deal with the European Union.

Paul Slevin, President of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “It is clear from this latest research that SMEs in the UK are feeling the brunt of issues arising from the new TCA with the EU, and particularly in Wales where almost two thirds of businesses trade with the EU in some way.

“To rectify this and increase the number of firms exporting, steps will need to be taken to improve the trade deal and reduce the impact on SMEs. While the current agreement is in place, we are offering specialist trade training courses to guide businesses through trading with the EU post Brexit.”

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “This is the latest BCC research to clearly show there are issues with the EU trade deal that need to be improved. Yet it could be so different. There are five relatively simple steps that UK and EU policymakers could take to ease the burden placed on businesses struggling with the trade deal.

“Nearly all of the businesses in this research have fewer than 250 employees and these smaller firms are feeling most of the pain of the new burdens in the TCA.

“Many of these companies have neither the time, staff or money to deal with the additional paperwork and rising costs involved with EU trade, nor can they afford to set up a new base in Europe or pay for intermediaries to represent them.

“But if both sides take a pragmatic approach, they could reach a new understanding on the rules and then build on that further.

“Accredited Chambers of Commerce support the UK Government’s ambition to massively increase the number of firms exporting. If we can free up the flow of goods and services into the EU, our largest overseas market, it will go a long way to realising that goal.”

 

The Five Key Issues for UK Exporters

The BCC’s five key issues, and the solutions needed, to improve EU trade are:

 

1. ISSUE: Export health certificates cost too much and take up too much time for smaller food exporters.

SOLUTION:  We need a supplementary deal on this which either eliminates or reduces the complexity of exporting food for these firms.

 

2. ISSUE: Some companies are being asked to register in multiple EU states for VAT in order to sell online to customers there.

SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal, like Norway’s with the EU. This exempts the smallest firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative and incur these duplicate costs.

 

3. ISSUE: As things stand CE marked industrial and electrical products will not be permitted for sale on the market in Great Britain from January 2023. The same is true for components and spares.

SOLUTION:  We need action from the Government to help businesses with these timelines. Many firms are far from convinced about a ban on CE marked goods in Great Britain.

 

4. ISSUE: UK firms facing limitations on business travel and work activities in the EU.

SOLUTION: Government needs to make side deals with the EU and member states to boost access in this area as a priority for 2022.

 

5. ISSUE: Companies starting to be pursued in respect of import customs declarations deferred from last year.

SOLUTION:  We need a pragmatic approach to enforcement to ensure companies recovering from the pandemic do not face heavy-handed demands too quickly on import payments, or paperwork.

Export, News

New generation of exporters needed to power economic growth – BCC Trade Manifesto

The British Chambers of Commerce is today setting out its manifesto to recruit legions of new UK exporters as its research continues to show poor overseas trade growth:

  • In Q4 of 2021, just over a quarter of exporting firms (29%) saw their overseas sales increase

  • Almost half (47%) saw no change and a quarter (24%) reported a decrease

  • This is despite substantially more firms reporting improved domestic conditions, with 45% confirming increased UK Sales in Q4.

BCC research also shows that exporters are uniquely facing a wide range of issues, from unprecedented inflationary pressures and global supply chain crises to a raft of new requirements flowing from the EU trade deal.

The Manifesto sets out a comprehensive list of steps to get more UK businesses, currently just 10%, involved in international trade. This compares to more than 60% of companies which are members of an Accredited Chamber of Commerce.

To do this the BCC is working with the whole of its Global Business Network, both within the UK and in 76 markets across the world, to help encourage the shift.

It is making the move after 23% of firms surveyed said finding a business partner or distributor overseas would encourage them to either start exporting or export more.

A further 16% of firms also said support with trade documentation would encourage them to start exporting or increase the amount of business they do overseas.

In Wales, 42% of businesses that trade internationally saw export sales decrease in Q4 of 2021and 43% of orders decrease while domestic sales and orders primarily increased or remained constant during the same period.

Paul Slevin, President of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “Businesses in Wales and the UK produce highly sought after goods and services but need help to maximise the opportunities that global markets can offer them, especially following the challenges of the pandemic, changes in our relationship with the EU and an exacerbated global supply chain.

“In addition to supporting the BCC’s incredibly important Trade Manifesto, we have recently launched a series of international trade training courses to help firms in Wales to overcome supply chain issues and cultivate necessary skills.”

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “The UK is bursting with amazing businesses offering goods and services that are high quality, sustainable and well designed. There are hundreds of overseas markets which are crying out for what we can offer.

“Yet only 10% of UK businesses are currently involved in exporting when all our research shows that firms trading overseas are more productive, innovative and resilient.

“So, it’s vital we now recruit a new generation of exporters to help take our overseas trade to the next level. We are standing at a moment where we can seize the opportunity to be in the vanguard of a world-wide revolution in new technology, digital services and Net Zero innovations.

“Accredited Chambers of Commerce have all the tools necessary to equip these new recruits and allow them to trade with confidence. Our ChamberCustoms service can also provide training, advice and brokerage to help goods clear UK borders with as little fuss as possible.

“Our research shows that overseas trade fell off a cliff in early 2020; just 8% of UK exporters saw any increase in the second quarter of that year. Almost two years later and the figures are still way below where they need to be, with only around a quarter reporting improvement.

“We are using our entire Global Business Network and will do everything we can to help firms explore the amazing possibilities that are out there. But more also needs to be done by government to support UK companies that have had to battle with rocketing costs, disrupted supplies and reams of new paperwork in Europe.

“If we all work together to take action then we can revitalise our exports growth and help power the UK’s economic recovery.”

The manifesto sets out a number of steps that the UK government could take to help firms trade with the EU and to make sure that any new trade agreements put the interests of business at their heart.

In Europe these include:

  • Streamlining customs and trade processes to reduce paperwork and delays
  • Developing more business-friendly rules on cross-border VAT
  • Bringing back, and boosting, the Brexit SME Support Fund to help firms adapt

More widely they include:

  • Creating a Business and Trade Growth Office at the Dept for International Trade to help smaller businesses get involved in exporting
  • Providing better access for UK professional services and mutual recognition of qualifications
  • Setting rules on trade that support the future exports of environmental goods and services
  • Securing real benefits for importers and manufacturers in the UK on tariff reductions and rules of origin
  • Providing manufacturers with better options on sourcing materials and components

Ms Haviland added: “We want to work with the UK Government and other trading bodies to build a proper coalition of support for a strong UK trade and investment strategy.

“If we want more firms to get involved in exporting then we need to see more end-to-end support to help them make the leap.

“But businesses also have the knowledge and practical know how to help the UK Government negotiate trade treaties that can open up new growth opportunities.

“We have always been champions of international trade and there is no doubt in our minds that businesses that embrace exporting to overseas markets will be better off for it, as will our economy. All it takes is a willingness to try.”

Export, News

New training courses to help businesses with supply chain issues

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid have launched a series of international trade training courses to help regional businesses overcome supply chain issues and develop skillsets.

The Chamber is known for curating end-to-end supply chain connectivity across global markets and has designed the courses to provide businesses with the skills and confidence to deal with fundamental trade processes and documentation.

The training will help businesses export and import successfully, particularly following the introduction of new Customs regulations and controls this month.

Keith Moore, International Trade Executive at Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “Whether in daily conversations or via our Quarterly Economic Surveys, businesses continue to share their concerns with us regarding supply chain issues and the recruitment of skilled workers. Using our extensive experience, we have developed a range of courses with expert trainers to empower businesses to manage their supply chain and upskill staff.”

Nine courses are accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce and each successful participant is provided with a certificate to show their industry recognised qualification. By completing six courses, participants can gain a Foundation Award in International Trade.

The courses are also HMRC aligned, providing businesses with the skills and understanding to ensure their business is compliant and prepared for audits. As non-compliance with the new customs regulations could potentially lead to considerable financial penalties and fines, the courses can assist businesses to mitigate their risk.

Other specialist courses in the series include guides to trading with Northern Ireland and the EU post Brexit.

Welsh businesses may also be eligible for funding from the Welsh Government’s Flexible Skills Programme for Export Training to cover the cost of training to improve their capability to trade internationally.

Facilitated by the Chamber, the courses are delivered by trainers Jeff Lewis, an international business, training and development advisor, and Mark Rowbotham, an independent consultant, trainer and writer in customs and excise issues.

Jeff Lewis said: “Import and export training is now more important than ever for UK companies. Delivered in a friendly and easy to understand way, the range of courses will enable delegates to gain knowledge of the procedures required to help their businesses achieve profitable international sales growth.”

Mark Rowbotham said: “There is a greater need than ever for exporters and importers to understand the changes to international trade procedures, and that is why the Chamber has introduced a new package of training courses in international trade. In this age of economic uncertainty, greater levels of knowledge of international trade will enhance your business and give you the economic cutting edge.”

Export, News

Global sales of British manufactured goods to add £9.3bn to the Welsh economy this year

  • International sales of British-made goods will bring in £9.3bn to the Welsh economy this year and currently support 40,400 manufacturing jobs in the area
  • Food and drink products (£34.3bn in sales per year) are the country’s biggest selling manufactured product on the global stage, followed by automotive products (£20.9bn)
  • Manufacturers who export are more likely to have achieved ‘significant growth’ this year than those who don’t: 26% vs 18%
  • 75% of non-exporting manufacturers plan to start in 2022: their sales could see these exports worth £10.1bn per year to the Welsh economy by 2030, an annual increase of £854m over current levels

UK manufacturing exports will bring in around £9.3bn* to the Welsh economy this year, according to a new study** from Barclays Corporate Banking. What’s more, the plans of manufacturers who don’t currently export to start selling their products overseas could see that total soar to £10.1bn a year by 2030.

Barclays’ new report – The Export Dividend – shows that, despite widespread supply chain disruption and challenges brought on by the global pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU, 69% of manufacturing firms with 10 or more employees in Wales are currently exporting. Across the UK, British food and drink producers are reaping the highest financial rewards, with £34.3bn in sales on a global scale. They are followed by automotive manufacturers, with £20.9bn.

On a national scale, exporters are also shown to have fared better this year than non-exporters. Over a quarter (26%) of the research respondents who sell overseas said they had seen ‘significant growth’ in 2021, only 18% of non-exporters said the same. Meanwhile, manufacturers who export are also more confident about their prospects in 2022 with 88% of exporting businesses upbeat about their growth prospects, compared to 71% of those who don’t currently export.

Among those who don’t yet export, there is significant demand to start doing so with three quarters (75%) in the Wales aiming to start selling overseas in 2022. If they do, Barclays’ economic modelling predicts it could be worth an additional £107m to the local economy next year, and an additional £854m per year by 2030.

Non-exporters are more likely to favour European markets, with 30% saying they would target Germany initially, followed by The Netherlands (24%) and the US (24%). In contrast, the US is the market that most current exporters (30%) sell to, followed by Germany (26%) and France (26%).

The new findings coincide with the Government’s refreshed export strategy, ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’, which was published in November. Barclays’ research shows that knowledge gaps will need to be narrowed to fulfil its ambitions. As it stands, far from all manufacturers in Wales are aware of current or emerging initiatives to encourage international trade, such as the UK’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (48%) and the recently signed free trade agreements with Japan (40%) and Australia (40%).

Meanwhile, only around a quarter (25%) were aware of the plans to create eight new freeports in England, which offer tax breaks for manufacturers on the import of materials. However, those familiar with freeports were very positive about the scheme with 85% saying they plan to make use of them once they come online.

Richard Craven, Manufacturing Industry Director, Barclays Corporate Banking said: “The British manufacturing sector, like many others, has endured a tough year and around a third of our research respondents have been impacted by higher labour costs, higher material costs and other supply chain issues.

“However, exporters, more than most, have weathered the storms and are enjoying strong demand for their products in markets all around the world. Confidence is high and many firms are looking to exports to fulfil their growth ambitions next year and beyond.”

Other findings from The Export Dividend report include:

  • 71% of manufacturers agree that the pandemic continues to have an adverse impact on their business operations
  • To mitigate disruption, over two fifths (43%) are diversifying their global supply base, while 40% are setting up overseas warehousing space
  • Beyond the EU and the US, current exporters are most likely to be trading in Canada (23%), India (19%), or Latin America (17%)

References

* Economic modelling was conducted by Development Economics Ltd, combining attitudinal survey responses with ONS data sources. The modelling uncovered statistically representative results for each UK manufacturing sub-sector and each UK region.

** Barclays Corporate Banking commissioned Censuswide to run a survey of 604 18+ senior managers or above in manufacturing businesses with 10 or more employees, conducted between 11th October and 20th October 2021.

Export, Finance and Banking, Global Trade

British importers and exporters bullish about growth

British importers and exporters are more bullish about growth in the next year than their domestically focused counterparts, according to new research from HSBC UK.

A survey of more than 1,000 British businesses found that 60% of firms that either import or export expect to grow their business in the next 12 months, compared to 46% of domestic firms.

However, the survey found that the number of companies negatively impacted by the end of the Brexit transition period has increased since the start of the year. More than half (52%) of importers and exporters noted a negative impact today, compared to 47% when the survey was first conducted in January.

In addition, the main issue identified by firms now is ‘delays in receiving goods’ which differs from the last survey which saw ‘increased time spent on administrative tasks’ as the biggest issue.

Ian Tandy MBE, Head of Trade for HSBC UK, said: “Ongoing pandemic restrictions in many parts of the world, coupled with the end of the Brexit transition period, has made for a challenging first half of the year and we’ve been working closely with our international customers to support them.

“It’s very encouraging to see that, despite this, exporters and importers remain confident about finding growth in the year ahead. That’s testament to their innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to deliver for their customers – wherever they are in the world.”

More than two thirds (69%) of exporters said that future free trade agreements would be important for growth and more than half (54%) said they would be more likely to consider exporting to a new market if a trade deal was in place.

In addition, more than a third (34%) of importers and exporters said they would be likely to adapt their operations to take advantage of one of eight new freeports that are due to be created to offer incentives to businesses.

Ian Tandy MBE, added: “It’s positive to see at this early stage that a third of importers and exporters are planning to make changes to make the most of the benefits that freeports will offer in the future.

“As the UK continues to redefine its trading relationships with the world, businesses are sending a clear message that they have an appetite to export and would be more likely to do so with trade deals in place.

“I hope the Government maintains its recent trade policy momentum and focus on agreeing new deals with markets around the world that will have clear benefits for UK businesses.”

Export, International News, Logistics, News

International trade hit by supply issues, says Chambers Wales

The biggest challenges facing importers and exporters in Wales lie with supply issues, says Chambers Wales.

The leading business membership organisation in Wales says it is helping hundreds of businesses who trade internationally who have been affected by volatility in the supply chain.

While demand for air cargo has risen according to recent statistics released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), capacity remains 9.7% below pre-Covid levels due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft.

In many cases, freight that had been transported by air pre-pandemic is having to be moved by slower sea routes. Businesses in Wales and globally are frustrated by the delays in moving goods caused by shortages of labour and materials. A lack of skilled drivers, container shortages, the backlog caused by the Suez crisis and the ongoing pandemic are all negatively impacting shipping routes.

Jo Price, Director of International at Chambers Wales, said: “Rising freight costs and widespread shortages are causing a headache for exporters and importers in Wales and across the world as international trade continues to be unpredictable and volatile.

“At Chambers Wales, our experienced international team are helping to remove the stresses of current supply chain issues by providing guidance and support on global trade concerns and connecting businesses to local suppliers in Wales and the UK wherever possible.”

An additional concern around the sourcing of suitable wood for pallets used to pack and transport goods is also causing delays for businesses.

Jo added: “While many of us love to upcycle pallets as decorations or to spruce up the garden, removing these pallets from supply chains is causing headaches for businesses. Recycling them can make a huge difference at a time when these vital transport structures are in short supply. Our member business Pallet Recycling South Wales can assist with this, restoring pallets to their original quality, putting them back into the supply chain and contributing to a greener future.”

Chambers Wales offer a range of services to curate end-to-end solutions, connecting Welsh businesses with global suppliers, buyers and markets. In addition to customs intermediary services and documentation support, the organisation also offer a series of accredited international trade training courses.

Export, Health, News

Bedfont expands its reach in the Middle East by obtaining registration for its Gastro+™ Gastrolyzer®

Bedfont’s breath analysis medical device for helping to detect GI disorders can now be sold in the UAE

Leaders in breath analysis medical devices, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., announced that it has successfully registered its Gastro+™ Gastrolyzer® for sale in the United Arab Emirates.

A big part of UAE culture, food is often used to celebrate and bring people together, however according to the Food Allergy Research & Education, “as many as 15 million people suffer food intolerances” and as many as 11% are lactose intolerant according to a report published by the US Census Bureau International Data Base.

A portable hydrogen monitor, the Gastro+™ works by measuring the amount of hydrogen in a patient’s breath caused by the breakdown of food in the gut. This aids HCP’s in investigating if a patient has any sugar-related food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, and it can also be used to help detect other gastrointestinal disorders such as SIBO and IBS. Unlike more conventional methods which can take up to two weeks to diagnose, the simple breath test does not require a blood sample and provides instant results.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “Our Regulatory Affairs department has been working hard on this registration for 9 months, and we’re over the moon to be able to say we can now sell the Gastro+™ into the UAE. It’s going to help a lot of people improve their quality of life, and we looking forward to working more closely with our distributor there, Al Zahrawi Medical Supplies LLC. ”

To learn more visit: https://www.bedfont.com/wp/bedfont-expands-its-reach-in-the-middle-east-by-obtaining-registration-for-its-gastro-gastrolyzer/