Pacific Northwest Asia Shippers Association

Author picture

Hayden Swofford

2011 was a robust year for exports from North America to Asia. The China factor has played heavily for many, and this specific business has proved to be somewhat cyclical in nature. Other destinations are still the steady consumer of goods and commodities they have always been, and new markets are developing. The relatively weak U.S. dollar has been beneficial in aiding American exporters to gain greater exposure of their products to a broader range of buyers.

The essential part of any transaction in the export process is the ability to get the product to market.

Carriers and infrastructure providers that have designed and built systems and programs for the American importer are broadening their scope and perspective and will create a more balanced approach to overall trade, helping the American exporter to expand to new markets by having access to some of those same systems for delivery of their goods and products.

This should prove to help strengthen not just the American economy, but also the balance sheets of those companies working hard to help exporters realize their goals and potential.

One question any purchaser of transportation has right now is how carriers will deal with the volatility pervading the industry. This condition isn’t one that lends to a stable, healthy environment allowing for predictability in the cost of delivering product to the market. Predictability and stability are critical factors to transportation consumers.