The Far East, despite its host of challenges, remains the growing sector of the world and as the USA threatens to falter, the time has come to better understand the East, how they think and conduct business. “Shanghai’s new port promises, when complete, to be one of the biggest in the world. It is important to understand the dynamics playing out in China and other eastern countries as the market determines which production area is the most competitive. Certain products previously sourced from China are now obtained from neighbouring countries that have managed to keep their costs down. It’s a dynamic and everchanging market,” said Gunther. With fair volumes at present and all indications that there will be a pick-up towards the end of the year, WCS believes that there is much room for growth in the coming years. But, to deal in the Far East means one must have a substantial footprint in all operational ports. “You need to know how the customs process differs from area to area. Chinese Export incentives play a large role in determining where cargo is shipped from,” said Gunther.
