sourcing Archives - Page 3 of 8 - ET2C International

Freight Rates 2.0

Industry Insights / admin / freight rates, Industry, logistics, sourcing

Freight Rates 2.0 ET2C Int.
Freight rates continue their astronomic rise, and with spot rates expected to surpass $20,000 for a 40ft container Ex China to Europe in July, there is little chance of any immediate respite.

Freight rates are all that companies manufacturing overseas – particularly from Asia – are talking about. The disruption that started at the end of 2020 on the back of a shortage of containers and equipment in market, has now intensified on the back of high consumer demand and profiteering by the Carrier Alliances (in our opinion). The implications are wide-ranging but ultimately, alongside commodity price rises, Consumers should anticipate an inflationary tsunami hitting product prices by Q3 and Q4 of this year, and that is if there is available stock in store come the end of the year!

Freight Rates Growth

Fig 1, Freightos Index, China/East Asia to Mediterranean

At the end of last year, there was an expectation that freight rates would begin to ameliorate by Spring/Summer 2021; we even suggested that there were ‘whispers of $10,000 per FEU come CNY for China to Europe for Off contract rates’. There was certainly logic to this view (and perhaps a bit of optimism). Chinese New Year is always a bottle neck with large volumes of goods moving prior to the Chinese holidays. Carriers were already implementing a ‘blanking strategy’ to reallocate assets and minimize disruption. However, now off-contract rates, with premiums, surcharges and any other means of ‘gazumping’ the competition, are heading over the $20,000 mark for a 40 ft container on both Western and Eastern routes out of China to Europe and the States. As per the graphic above, basic rates have increased 5 fold since the start of the year, and a comparison of rates year on year demonstrates a stark difference in price.

What Happened?

A combination of factors has led to this extraordinary price surge. In simple economics, there is excess demand and constraints in supply. This has led to record freight rates at a time when supply chains are already stressed on the back of Pandemic. It appears that global trade and supply chains, as much as take for granted, under normal market conditions are delicately balanced.

There have been additional disruptions that have not helped. The Ever Given was the first such ‘shock’ as it plugged a vital artery of global for six days. Carriers had to reroute their vessels onto different, longer routes to get to their destinations. There has also been the recent outbreak of Covid in Southern China, striking right at the heart of one of the busiest ports in the world, Yantian. The port handled 13.3 million Twenty Foot Equivalents in 2020, which is approximately 36,400 per day. Although the port is back to operational capacity, there is a significant back log that continues to disrupt surrounding ports and waterways.

Freight Rates 2.0 ET2C sourcing

There is no doubt that bringing back capacity does take time. Current market conditions are no doubt challenging for the carriers. However, it is true that the Carriers are now generating excessive profits on the back of the situation and perhaps to the ultimate detriment of their customers; the retailers, wholesalers and importers shipping goods. You have to just look at some of the recent results announced for Q1 2021, and at a time when off-contract rates were only around $13,000 per 40ft container. Maersk, one of the largest carriers, has just announced an increase in EBIT to $3.1Bn from $552 Million over the same quarter last year (Q1 2020 was likely impacted by Covid to an extent). Their website goes on to state, ‘The results reflect high volumes, which are up 5.7%, significant increases in freight rates of 35% and lower bunker fuel prices…’. The same can be seen with other carriers, for example, Cosco has reported net profits in Q1 of $2.39 Billion.

Freight Rates – What Next?

The Carriers are suggesting that demand will support these rates well into Q4 of this year, particularly on Ocean routes. Some retailers are already considering entering the shipping market themselves as a safeguard against further rate rises. Taking on this risk would likely only be possible for the large big box retailers. Home Depot is already willing to take that position and have their own vessel for moving goods to the US.

The market will settle and pricing will likely react to additional supply (containers and ships) coming to the market later this year into next year. The concern, though, remains how long these rates are sustainable. In the meantime, there are some areas of concern:

1. Large retailers will have the advantage over smaller players, who can leverage large contract rates that will help them (for now) to get a significant discount on the freight rates.
2. Certain categories with large CBM (like furniture) may become prohibitive to ship where the consumer is not willing to take on the additional costs.
3. Freight forwarders may not be able to finance the shipments as credit limits per customer will be restrictive to new business. Working capital will be stretched.
4. There will be a significant lack of stock in Western markets for the next 6 months, which will drive inflation at a time when commodity prices are already forcing prices up.

Of course, it is an opportunity to look at re-engineering your products, how you can ship more effectively, different routes (like train to EU), alternate markets and look at removal of costs across the entire supply chain.

Call to Action – #doRightbyRetail

The Pandemic has brought aspects of global supply chains into focus. This market is very challenging and risks tipping a recovering global economy into an inflationary spin. Governments need to understand that the majority of brands and retailers have already struggled enough over the past 18 months and this just adds fuel to the fire. The Consumer, too, is unlikely ready for the price hikes around the corner. That is why we have decided to act to make a difference.

doRightbyRetail-1

Starting with the UK, we are just working on a Petition to put to the UK Government to provide temporary assistance on import duty and VAT and, once it has been approved, we will need the support of all UK residents who want to #doRightbyRetail and seek Government support. We need your help to make that difference.

At ET2C, we understand your needs, and are prepared to do what it takes to make that difference. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Plastic Injection Moulding: The Insight Series

Industry Insights / admin / Industrial, Platic Injection Moulding, sourcing

Plastic Injection Moulding ET2C Int. Sourcing Procurement Industrial

Plastic Injection Moulding is a manufacturing technique that is widely used for the production of plastic products.

The Insight Series

We work with our suppliers to develop products across an array of different sectors that rely on varying materials and a range of manufacturing techniques. It is always fascinating to see how each of these products are made, whether it is the number of hands that touch the products as it is manufactured or the machines that are utilised as part of the production process.

Plastic Injection Moulding ET2C Int. Sourcing Procurement Industrial Machine
This month, we’re back! We are going to take a look at one of the most widely used plastic forming techniques – plastic injection moulding – and its applications across a wide range of industries. Given the breadth of sectors that this plastic forming technique covers, it should not be a surprise that plastic injection moulding is common within the Asian manufacturing sector. Whether it is solely used for componentry or the product itself, this technique aligns to high quantity, cost-effective products.

Plastic Injection Moulding

So what does this technique involve? If you have ever been to a factory using this technique, you will have noticed the sizeable machinery in the factory. Of course, the machines vary in size depending on the product requirements.
The machine takes the solid plastic (pellets), compresses it and then melts it as prior to it arriving in the injection chamber. The plastic is then injected (as the name would suggest) at high pressure into a customized mould, which is generally made of two parts. The plastic then cools and solidifies and can then be released. Simple!

Moulds & Assembly

As you can imagine, it does get more complicated than this. There are variations in how the moulds interact (two part-moulds, side action moulds and moulds with ‘releasers’) which will depend entirely on the product being made.
In addition, the assembly process ranges from simple to complex. This is based on the budget and the final product being manufactured. Different types of assembly include mechanical, ultrasonic sealed and using adhesives.
Plastic injection moulding is a more automated manufacturing process which relies much less on the ‘human’ touch points. So, what are the benefits of using Asian suppliers given labour is not a significant cost? The largest benefit of leveraging production in Asia is the actual mould tool creation/set-up. This is very labour intensive hence the benefit and as such there are significant reductions in the capital investment required; costs which are often amortized across the product costs, which increases price.

Industry Application

The technique has broad application across a number of sectors. The best way to demonstrate this is to provide some insight on some of the industries where it is commonly used.

1. Medical

The industry demands high quality instruments that are precise and intricate in their design. Plastic injection moulding, with its high-pressure moulding, is capable of producing such instruments in a cost-effective way. The plastic resins used are high quality and can deliver superior mechanical properties such as high tensile strength and resistance to high temperatures.

ET2C Int. Sourcing Procurement Industrial medical

2. Shoe Industry

The technique is also used widely in the shoe industry. Yes, shoes are often made of leather and fabric uppers. But you will note that most shoes use plastic injecting moulding to form the sole. This provides the shape and durability and gives you that little bit of cushioning!

3. Electronics

Plastic is a good protector against dust and dirt and does not trap moisture. So when you are dealing with electronic components and circuit boards on keyboards and computers, plastic injection moulding is the perfect technique to create the casing and the frames. Given the infiltration of electronic items into our everyday lives, you should now be getting a sense of the importance of this manufacturing technique.
There are other industries that can also be added to the list, such as food and beverages, toy and building.

Advantages of Plastic Injection Moulding

We have seen the industries to which it is applied, but what are the benefits from a manufacturing perspective?

As a manufacturing process, plastic injection moulding has lots of advantages:

1. Quality Replication

With the right moulds and resins, it should be possible to reproduce the same product thousands of times to the same quality.

2. Low Cost

Once the moulds have been made and evaluated (and invested in) the cost per unit is relatively low compared with other materials and manufacturing processes. The lack of waste also factors into this as well (unlike CNC which has a much higher wastage).

3. Mass Production

When the machine is operating, the injection cycle should be a matter of minutes (or even seconds!) per unit. It is therefore an incredibly quick and effective manufacturing process for mass, large scale production runs.

Summary

Industrial manufacturing is a fast-growing sector for offshore manufacturing, particularly across Asia where relative share has grown significantly, which includes products that are made using plastic injection moulding techniques.
At ET2C, we look to provide our clients with insights across our manufacturing base. We already manufacture a range of industrial products for our clients across multiple markets. For more information. please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Sourcing chronicles: ET2C – 20 years and counting!

Company News / admin / Buying Office, et2c, procurement, Quality Control, sourcing

Sourcing Chronicles ET2C International procurement quality control

Sourcing has evolved significantly over the past 20 years. We have seen China’s accension to the WTO, outsource manufacturing move mainstream with lower barriers to entry, trade tariffs as part of political posturing, the expectations of the consumer have developed to put greater emphasis on information flow (sustainability, supply chain transparency etc) and, last year, the Pandemic and the PPE ‘grab’.

There is no doubt that some of these events have presented opportunities whilst others have been significantly more challenging. Throughout these ups and downs, a consistent throughout this period has been ET2C, who celebrates 20 years on the 8th May 2021. Our DNA remains the same, and we are still working to deliver the best products and services to our clients. It’s what gets us out of bed in the morning!

“What a fantastic achievement! Never could I have imagined, on that first day when I opened the office on Beijing Dong Lu, that 20 years later we would have over 200 staff across more than 10 countries and over 100 regular clients. Of course there have been tough times, but it has been the staff and our clients that have helped us truly grow and flourish. A great ride, here is to the next twenty!” Richard Archer-Perkins, CEO, 7th May 2021

ET2C’s History

It all started at the Javits Center in January 2001, when Richard (CEO) visited New York at the Pure Exhibition. Having seen the emergence of a mass manufacturing base in China, which was in the early stages of taking the mantle from Taiwan, he walked the show going to every booth asking whether there was anyone interested in working with China. There was a lot of interest, but there was only one company that came to the table; a body jewellery company called Silver Moon Concepts who operated in Florida, USA. He managed to find a supplier (who traditionally worked with watches), who had the machinery and material to make surgical grade stainless steel (316L) and importantly create the necessary shapes. He then went about finding staff to create a mini-production line to put the product together and pack them. The office then opened on the 8th May 2001.

ET2C office

The evolution of the business

As a result of delivering significant cost savings and driving margin growth for our clients, ET2C quickly took on more clients who wanted access to suppliers in China. Even back then, in 2002 and 2003, broad access to China was much more limited as it would usually be today (outside of the Pandemic). As the business grew, we established our own merchant team, a quality team and established operations in different markets to best align with our clients’ needs. Today, we have in excess of 100 regular clients and are constantly looking to give them sourcing solutions that drive their bottom-line growth.

Areas such as sustainability and personalisation have become key parts of any retailers’ supply chains – at the very least they should be analysed and considered in line with the consumer – and we are therefore actively engaging in these fields to continue to provide relevant solutions to our clients.

ET2C video — Watch our Company Video to know more!

Sourcing in Uncertain Times

The Pandemic continues to stunt global trade, with certain markets still reeling from lockdowns whereas others are beginning to relax restrictions. Sourcing markets are similarly impacted; India has plunged into a lockdown whereas China by comparison is largely Covid free. Market diversification is essential to spread risk across regional hubs. We continue to see this trend with South East Asia (Vietnam and India) becoming increasingly popular as sourcing locations. Diversification can also include, particularly for European businesses, near sourcing options such as Turkey where freight rates (and at today’s high pricing) can be mitigated as well as speed to market.

That is not to say that China will lose importance even as its relative market share is gradually eroded. On the contrary, we think that China will still be an essential part of any sourcing matrix given the infrastructure and networks in place.

ET2C’ Services

We realise that every client will have their own unique requirements. We, therefore, look to tailor our solutions to best fit each client’s needs, whether this be resource, expertise, cost structure we have the solution for you.

Sourcing Solutions

Our merchandise teams work across multiple categories, but primarily these can be defined into two divisions, Consumer Goods (Garden, Fashion, Pet, Toys, Furniture, Homewares and Health & Beauty) and Industrial goods. We currently source from India, China, Vietnam and Turkey (opened December 2020). Countries being assessed at present include Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Buying Office

Our Buying Office solution has always been the backbone of the company and helped the business to grow. We still believe that ability to have a dedicated team on the ground, in market, is essential to driving visibility at source. This allows clients to fully control their suppliers across quality, delivery and production management. Our model is the most cost effective, transparent and simplest available and second to none.

Quality Team

We have teams on the ground who spend a considerable amount of their time traveling to suppliers to verify and check the quality of our clients’ products pre-shipment. There is no doubt that having visibility pre-shipment of your products is an essential part of the supply chain function. Our teams also evaluate factories to make sure that you know they are the right partner for you before committing to any funds. We have recently launched our Virtual Factory Tours initiative to help clients who are stuck out of their sourcing markets connect with their suppliers, or even identify potential new partners.

ET2C - Virtual Factory Tours — Watch the video to know more about ET2C Virtual Factory Tours

With 20 years of experience, ET2C is well-positioned to help you with all your sourcing needs, whatever they may be. We look forward to designing new solutions to make your business more successful. Please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Die Casting Process: The Insight Series

Industry Insights / admin / Die Casting Process, Industrial, sourcing, Supply Chain

Die Casting Process The Insight Series ET2C Int. Sourcing Industrial Components

Die Casting Process is a manufacturing technique for producing metal components that are used in everyday use.

The Insight Series

We work with our suppliers to develop products across an array of different sectors that rely on varying materials and a range of manufacturing techniques. Undoubtedly, it is always fascinating to see how each of these products is made, whether it is the number of hands that touch the products as it is manufactured or the machines that are utilised as part of the production process.
This month, our insight series is back! We are going to take a look at industrial manufacturing and, in particular, the High Pressure Die Casting Process. Industrial manufacturing is an area that is growing as part of offshore production, with many companies moving to work with Asian suppliers to increase margin at a product level whilst not compromising quality standards.

Inside Industrial Manufacturing

Industrial manufacturing covers a broad range of techniques, processes and machinery. The application is similarly broad – engines, components, panels, wheels, tracks – essentially anything that involves the production of metal parts or plastic parts. Imagine, high temperatures, molten metal and large machines pressing., stamping and casting metal! Given the breadth of the topic, we have decided to focus on just one area for this issue.

High Pressure Die Casting Process

High pressure die casting is a quick, reliable and cost-effective manufacturing process for high volume production of metal components, where molten metal is forced under pressure into a securely locked metal die cavity (tool or mould as some people would have heard). It is then held in place by a powerful press until the metal cools and solidifies. After solidification of the metal, the die is unlocked, opened, and the casting extracted automatically.

Applications

Certainly, high-pressure die casting has wide application encompassing nearly 50% of all light alloy casting production, such as engine components, motorcycle components, household white-goods components, cookware, plumbing & heating, to name only a few. It is applicable to everyday items that can be seen around your house. The workers in the factory work with molten metals and workers wear suitably protective clothing and eyewear.
An example of a high-pressure die casting is provided in the below illustration. Precisely, this shows how the liquid metal is injected with high speed and high pressure into the metal mould. The basic equipment consists of two vertical platens. The bolsters are placed on these platens and this holds the die halves. Out of the two platens, one is fixed and the other movable, this helps the die to open and close.

High Pressure Die Casting Process

A specific amount of metal is poured into the shot sleeve and afterward introduced into the die cavity. This is done using a hydraulically driven piston to make the shape required. As you can imagine, unlike a shoe, there is a lot of this manufacturing that is automated, and the workers are there to operate the machinery.
Obviously, different metals require different heat, and these can reach up to 1090C° to cast the metal effectively. The table below shows the temperatures and also the number of products each die will produce before it starts degrading (at that point, you may have issues with the end product). This is important as generally this type of casting process is able to produce large volumes of product before having to replace the die, which itself is expensive.

Typical die temperatures and life for various cast materials

Jelly Sweets

So, have you ever wondered how jelly sweets are made? HPDC has a broad application and even used to make moulds for sweets. This strawberry jelly mould is made from aluminium (non-ferrous) material which is a versatile material that can be heat treated to give added strength together with lightness, corrosion resistance and high conductivity.

Jelly sweet mold Industrial molding souricng procurement 2

The specific casting temperature of this aluminium is 660.3 degrees C. Raw material is supplied in ingot form (left image) then turned into molten metal in a furnace to be transferred into the shot sleeve for the casting process to commence.
The end product is the mould that food manufacturers use to make a jelly sweet – and lots of them!

Advantages of High-Pressure Die Casting Process

As a manufacturing process, high-pressure die casting has a lot of advantages:

Low Costs. Given the speed of process, and the level of automation, HDPC is able to produce a lot of products out of one mould compared with other casting processes. This reduces the cost per unit, albeit sometimes the capital investment can be on the higher side.Tolerances
Tolerances. The process is able to produce close dimensional control (the metal fills the cavity) and good surface finish.
Weight Flexibility. Given the high pressure used in the production, HDPC is able to produce thin wall finishes, which leads to lighter end product, which still maintains rigidity and functionality.

Summary

Certainly, Industrial manufacturing is a fast-growing sector for offshore manufacturing, particularly across Asia where relative share has grown significantly. This is due to the cost reductions being significant but also overlaid with excellent suppliers and quality standards.
At ET2C, we look to provide our clients with insights across our manufacturing base. We already manufacture a range of industrial products for our clients across multiple markets. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

Cover photo credits: Goodwin Steel Castings . The title and logo have been added to the original image.

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Buy Products from China? 5 Alternative Sourcing Markets to Consider

Industry Insights / admin / Alternative sourcing markets, Buy products from China, China, sourcing

Buy Products from China ET2C Int sourcing procurement find suppliers

Buy products from China? It is time to consider a more diversified sourcing strategy and consider alternative sourcing markets.

The US-China trade war was first, and then the Covid-19 pandemic followed soon after, both of which have shaken up long-established global supply chains in a relatively short period of time. Over the last year, many companies have established crisis management teams to provide focus across their supply chains. In this delicate moment, they had to assess the impact of disruptions. Moreover, they had to provide direction to employees and customers about the actions needed to mitigate the emerging risks.

Current restrictions for those who buy products from China.

The restrictions currently in place preventing travel and the movement of people have tested supply chains to their limits. Access to sourcing markets, visibility/transparency across production, quality are key components to deal with the uncertainty whilst building resilient supply-chains.

In this context, enhancing sourcing capabilities requires the development of a strategy that models environmental/geopolitical risks into the supply-chain. It needs to consider multi-jurisdictional manufacturing and outsourcing models. And lastly, building redundancy into the supply chain. In other words, diversifying the sourcing strategy to spread the risks of operating in offshore markets.

5 Alternative Sourcing Markets to consider if you buy products from China.

In 2016, Deloitte released the Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index (GMCI). This study demonstrated the ongoing influence manufacturing has on driving global economies.

In particular, the report forecasted the rise of the “Mighty Five” – Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. The “MITI-V” were expected to be included in the top 15 nations on manufacturing competitiveness over the following five years. So if you buy products from China, should definitely consider these sourcing markets too.

Let’s take a look at some of the different opportunities and challenges importers might experience in each of these China sourcing alternatives.

1. Malaysia

European and US companies have ranked Malaysia as the second most favourable Southeast Asian country for opportunities to establish or expand their sourcing, selling or operations over the next six to 12 months, according to study commissioned by Standard Chartered.

Malaysia’s economy is the third-largest in Southeast Asia behind India’s and Indonesia’s, despite having a much smaller population. It’s considered an upper-middle-income economy, with its openness towards trade and investment largely credited for its development.

Malaysia ET2C Int sourcing procurement quality control

Overall Malaysia posted a $44.2 billion surplus on goods traded during 2020, up 33.3% from $33.2 billion in black ink one year earlier.

Malaysia’s top 10 exports accounted for over four-fifths (81.2%) of the overall value of its global shipments. They include electrical equipment, machinery including computers, rubber articles, optical, technical, medical apparatus, plastic articles, iron, steel, aluminum.

Benefits of sourcing from Malaysia

• Tariffs
Exporters in Malaysia benefit from no value-added tax (VAT) on exports, as compared to a tax of about 13 percent on exports from China. This lowers costs for importers that purchase goods made in Malaysia.
• Geography
Malaysia’s geography also offers significant advantages in terms of shipping goods. In fact, it is located on the Strait of Malacca, an important shipping lane. The country is home to Port Klang and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, the second and third busiest ports in Southeast Asia, respectively.
• Workforce
Malaysia’s workforce is also highly skilled, ranking sixth globally on the World Economic Forum’s ranking of current workforce skills. Companies in Malaysia find it relatively easy to find employees with the skill set needed for their business given Malaysia’s high level of education and vocational training.

2. India

Considering that English is one of the official languages of India, foreigners manufacturing in this country do not face the same barriers of communication that often plague those who source from China.

Buy products from China ET2C International sourcing India
In addition, not only India has a large and growing workforce, but also the country is entering a new era of skilled manufacturing and production. Investment in smart manufacturing is coming to the fore and should create greater production efficiencies in the future.
For these reasons, an increasing number of companies are exploring alternative markets such as India to diversify their business and minimize risks.

Benefits of Sourcing from India

First, a wide range of raw materials is readily available within India including cotton, silk, jute, marble, metal, wood, bamboo, and others. The country traditionally focused on producing unique and handcrafted products not found in other countries.

There is also greater protection for Intellectual Property with more robust laws in place to implement such protection compared with other developing markets (China’s legal system is beginning to catch up in this regard, albeit there still gaps in protections).

India’s top exported categories overall are raw materials and industrial products. Other goods that you can import from India include handcrafted items made of various materials such as metal, ceramic, wood and textiles; apparel and fabrics; fashion accessories; leather products; and eco-friendly products.

3. Thailand

According to the World Bank, Thailand has a similar infrastructure as China when it comes to arranging international shipments and their timeliness.

Over the last years, the government has worked hard to plan public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth 1.09 trillion baht ($33.39 billion) during 2020-2027. In this general project, it included also the creation of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC).
The SEC will reportedly focus on four main areas: tourism on the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, agricultural product industries and ecological and cultural conservation and above all trade with countries in the Indian Ocean.

ET2C Int sourcing procurement quality control suppliers vendors Thailand
In particular, the country is trying to link the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea, making shipping between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean faster and cheaper.

Thailand earned an overall $20.4 billion trade surplus during 2020, up 289.9% from $5.2 billion in black ink one year earlier. The top 10 exports include machinery including computers, electrical, machinery/equipment, vehicles, precious metals, plastics, optical, technical, medical apparatus.

4. Indonesia

Located mostly in Southeast Asia extending to some territories in the Oceania continent across from Australia, the Republic of Indonesia shipped an estimated US$183.5 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2019.
Indonesia is home to Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and the world’s fourth-largest population.
Surprisingly, the country went from an -$8.5 billion trade deficit in 2018 to generate an estimated $27.1 billion trade surplus for 2019.

Buy products from China ET2C International sourcing Indonesia
Mainly, Indonesia has highly positive net exports in the international trade of coal and crude oil.
The top 10 exports include also electrical machinery/equipment, footwear, iron/steel, vehicles, precious metals, machinery including computers, rubber, clothing/accessories.

Advantages to sourcing from Indonesia

Despite a smaller population than China and India, those looking to source from Indonesia will benefit from the country’s large workforce. Also, the general population is very young with the median age being 28 years old.
In terms of wages, the labor costs are relatively low with the average monthly salary ranging around $182 in the manufacturing industry. Indonesia also offers a much more stable political climate compared to Malaysia and Thailand.

5. Vietnam

Albeit much smaller than China, Vietnam offers a broad manufacturing sector with experience of exporting. Labour rates remain low, there is raw material availability and also a good range of product knowledge. Importantly, the Government has been investing in infrastructure of the past decade to create efficiencies with logistics and shipping. There are also some attractive duty benefits most notably with the recent ascension of the recent EVFTA.

Buy products from China ET2C International sourcing Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City

Top industries in Vietnam

Electronics, machinery, and steel are some of the biggest industries in Vietnam.
In terms of quality and high value in production, we must mention furniture, garden products, garments, shoes and kitchenware.

Buy products from China, but not only

It is interesting looking back over the past 5 years since the Deloitte 2016 report was initially published. The report is largely correct with the rise of other manufacturing hubs in different countries. Certainly, this trend has certainly been accelerated by geo-political and natural events. That said, it remains true that China is still an important part of the global sourcing arena, and will continue to be so. Scale and population size (albeit an aging demographic) still count and provide a significant advantage when compared with smaller markets.

Whilst Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam are the most popular, finding the country to source from comes down to your unique business needs. We have offices in a number of Asian manufacturing hubs. Moreover, we are continually looking to identify the best sourcing markets for our clients. We have recently opened an office in Turkey to offer new suppliers to our clients mainly in Europe.

At ET2C, we are constantly looking for the best suppliers for our clients both within China and beyond. For all enquiries, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Shoe Suppliers: The Insight Series

Industry Insights / admin / manufacturing, Shoes, sourcing, suppliers

Shoe Suppliers Manufacturing ET2C Int sourcing China sourcing Vietnam

Shoe suppliers across the world make some 24 Billion shoes each year, in what is a more complex and labour-intensive industry than most people would expect.

The Insight Series

Consumerism has firmly put our focus on what we want, rather than understanding how the product is actually made. We launched the ‘Insight-Series’ to explain how some of the products we manufacture (across China, Vietnam, India, Turkey) are made. Also, we want to provide you with a little bit more knowledge the next time you buy a product.

shoes manufacturing ET2C Int sourcing China

Shoe Suppliers

Our first insight is on the shoe industry. This is a traditionally labour-intensive industry, requiring a combination of human labour. It is no surprise that still the vast majority of shoes manufactured are still being produced in China. In fact China, on it’s own, has an output equivalent to all 75% of all other global manufacturing capacity. The ‘shoe dogs’ amongst us will point to a traditional manufacturing process that has not really evolved in decades. However, the industry is gearing up for a shift change in terms of (sustainable) materials and manufacturing methods. For example, additive printing (3D Printing) is being used by some large brands to make customised shoes and soles for an individual’s foot but using a more data led process.

The Manufacturing Process

Shoe suppliers make lots of different styles that require different elements of the traditional manufacturing processes. These elements are largely dependent on the materials, aesthetic and the function of the shoe. To keep it simple, we will focus on one style of shoe that covers the most common elements of shoe production – the ‘Sneaker’.

1. Moulding the Sole

The first part is to get the sole moulded. This involves designing the sole, the shape, the branding and the type of sole you want. Large metal moulds need to be created in accordance with the design and approved. This then allows the rubber (or blend) to be put in the mould and pressed to get the individual soles. The hardness of the rubber will impact the feel and function of the shoe, which can be tested using a durometer.

Shoe Suppliers shoes Manufacturing ET2C Int sourcing China

2. Fabric Uppers

The material needs to be selected. These can be cottons, leathers and a range of other products – we are seeing more and more Ocean Plastic woven fabrics being used from a sustainability perspective. Whichever material that is selected, is put on the die cutting machine for cutting. The ‘Die-Cutting’, involves a metal shape – much like a Cookie cutter for baking – that is sharp and is pressed through multiple layers of fabric at one time to get many fabric uppers. For leather hides being cut, there is more expertise required to make sure that marks on the hides are not part of the uppers so mass cutting is not possible.

3. Upper Stitching

Probably the most labour-intensive process and if you have ever been into a shoe factory, it is where most of the workers will be, sitting at sewing machines making the uppers from the cut fabrics. There can be many elements to this depending on the design, which can involve multiple seams being added to the upper.

Shoe Suppliers Manufacturing ET2C Int sourcing China Vietnam

4. Cemented (Cup) vs Vulcanised

Sneakers have two main methods of attaching the soles to the uppers. Vulcanised soles are for much larger scale production. In fact, they require a machine to fix the ‘twice-cooked’ rubber sole to the upper. In comparison, the cup sole is traditionally stitched and glued (with heat) to the upper part of the shoe. This allows EVA or TPR to be added into cup sole to provide additional cushioning.

5. Lasting

The lasts (inserts that are the shape of the shoe) are used to make the sneaker and make sure that there is consistency with the shape of the shoe – the fabric/leather does have some flex.

Although a simplified version of the process, imagine that at each stage there are 2-3 workers touching the shoe as it goes along the production line and you begin to get an appreciation as to what kind of labour resource is needed to make just one pair of sneakers. And this does not include any additional embellishments on the uppers and packaging the goods. Think about this next time you buy a pair of shoes!

The shoe industry is a global industry, although the two largest exporters of shoes are China and Vietnam. The latter has developed an expertise over the past decade particularly in trainers for the likes of Nike and Adidas.

Summary

Shoe suppliers are in the most part still using traditional labour-intensive manufacturing techniques. This is likely to change with the evolution of the latest technologies, such as additive printing.

At ET2C, we look to provide our clients with insights across our manufacturing base. For more information please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Sourcing Solutions to Boost your Supply Chain

Company News, Industry Insights, Sourcing Procurement Insight / admin / Quality Control, sourcing, Supply Chain

Sourcing Solutions Et2C int. procurement business quality control audit buying office

Sourcing solutions need to be reassessed to meet the demands of the ‘Next Normal’ and ensure you do not lose competitive advantage.

Sourcing solutions will be key to the success of any Retailer, Brand or wholesaler in 2021. The Pandemic has left the world fractured and supply chains have been disrupted. In 2020, most business had to scramble to shift both their internal and external processes to function to some semblance of normality. The challenge that now lies ahead in 2021 is how businesses position themselves to capitalise on a global recovery. Undoubtedly, the effectiveness of their supply chain and sourcing capability will be integral to their success and failure.

Et2C International sourcing globe procurement

Sourcing Solutions – Key Themes

The context of this recovery can be framed in three main themes.

A) The Consumer

Lockdowns have accelerated the transition for many consumers from stores to online. In fact, it has been a forced change in many instances with non-essential shops having to close for extended periods. Consumers and retailers, therefore, had to rely on online interaction and relationships. In 9 of 13 major countries recently surveyed by Mckinsey on Pandemic-induced changes to shopping behaviour, at least two-thirds of consumers say they have tried new kinds of shopping. Moreover, in all 13, 65 percent or more say they intend to continue to do so. There is also a downside in that the consumer became even more fickle and the marketplace that much more competitive.

B) The Products

Notably, in a lot of markets, households have saved money and not an insignificant amount. The Bank of England has recently estimated that British Households have accumulated ‘accidental savings’ of £250 Billion. The consumer is therefore well poised – like a wound coil – to unleash pent-up demand for certain items once markets begin to reopen and lives normalise. Aside from travel and services sectors, the likely destination for this discretionary spend will be the fashion sector. Other sectors that have been resilient during COVID-19 will be impacted to a lesser extent. Companies need to be ready to take advantage of this spend.

C) Supply Chains

Supply chains have had to shift as well. Companies are all too aware now about the over-reliance on a small pool of suppliers or even focusing solely on one market. Building in resilience across your supply chain means greater visibility across all the manufacturers embedded within them but also the need to establish other market substitutes. The current freight rates out of Asia are a good example (up to $14k for a 40ft pre-CNY) and are pointing to other markets as potential opportunities that are not so heavily reliant on long shipping lead times.

Your sourcing solutions, therefore, need to factor in a range of complex, often inter-linked, issues at a time when businesses are primarily focusing on survival.

Sourcing Solutions for the Here and Now

There are many solutions that businesses can look to that address the current challenging environment. Clearly, the travel restrictions in place across regions and countries continue to cause challenges for supply chains where there is no ‘on the ground’ access.

Gaining access to these markets and getting the visibility you need across your supply base is key. Similarly, agility and speed to market will provide a competitive edge when it comes to sourcing new suppliers, identifying new innovations or even accessing new markets.

ET2C’s Solutions

At ET2C, we have a range of sourcing solutions to help you during these difficult times. These give you the access you need, but also build in the agility that is needed to leverage the benefits.

1. Virtual Factory Tours

If you are not able to get to your suppliers, let us bring them to you through our Virtual Factory Tours! These are live or pre-recorded visits on-site via video calls to walk you through the factory and give you the insight you need to make decisions supplier selection. It also gives you the opportunity to view the supplier’s processes and standards in real-time.

2. Buying Office Solution

The best way to get a cost-effective, but scalable solution on the ground across multiple markets. The dedicated team will allow you to develop deep relationships with your suppliers, identify new suppliers but importantly also conduct upstream sample reviews and shorten product development cycles.

Buying Office ET2C International procurement sourcing

3. Sourcing Services

We can give you access to multiple sourcing markets. Also, we can take on the supplier identification, assurance, management and quality aspects of your supply chain. We work as your partner on the ground delivering the products you need for your business.

Sourcing services ET2C International procurement

4. Quality Services

Our quality team has over 20 years of experience of quality assurance and inspections on the ground in Asia. We make sure that we get to the factory to give the visibility you need across product quality and the standards you require.

Quality Control ET2C International procurment inspection audit

5. Advisory

We are here to help! Whatever your needs for your sourcing, contact us and we’ll be happy to talk through any issues you may have.

Summary

Creating an agile supply chain in the current global sourcing environment will be essential to driving growth in 2021. There are many obstacles, but with the right sourcing solutions, your supply chain will create a competitive edge.

At ET2C, we are well placed to help manage your Asia Sourcing across multiple markets with teams on the ground as well as work with our clients on their shipping needs. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Find Wholesale Suppliers in China: Useful Tips

Industry Insights / admin / sourcing, suppliers, Wholesale

Find Wholesale Suppliers in China sourcing ET2C

Find Wholesale Suppliers in China with these useful tips.

The internet has enabled much greater access to overseas markets and their supplier bases. At the touch of a button, one can access lists of suppliers and what products that they manufacture. But this is only one part of the sourcing process. Companies need to know how best to identify the right partners and what this really entails to truly benefit from offshore manufacturing.

The biggest and most obvious advantage of purchasing in bulk is paying a lower price for your products. Companies that buy direct from China know this very well and leverage the benefits of larger volumes. However, there are also several challenges for those who want to buy ‘wholesale’ volumes that people need to be aware.

warehouse sourcing ET2C

In the past, we already mentioned the importance of building up strong and trusting relationships with suppliers. But first of all, how to find the right wholesale supplier in China for you?

We already released a guide to “find the perfect match” between buyers and suppliers and mentioned the importance of these 5 key factors to consider:

Location
Communication
Quality control
Delivery
Culture.

How to find wholesale suppliers in China?

There are a number of different options to search and find wholesale suppliers in China, and we set out the main ones below:

Online research

The first, instinctive way to look for wholesale suppliers in China is through online searches. Unfortunately, just googling something like “best suppliers in China” can lead to a dead end. Let’s admit it, finding product suppliers for your business through an online research can be difficult and time-consuming.

In most cases, you are better placed to look for online wholesale supplier directories, which usually list thousands of suppliers. While some of these directories are completely free to use, others require merchants to pay a fee in order to gain access. It goes without saying that the list of the “best suppliers” are those you have to pay for.

Bonus tip.

Be aware that you will need to qualify any supplier that you think sounds right for your business. There are often instances where companies may not be quite what they say they are. So be careful and always investigate the suppliers.

Chinese Marketplaces

As many know, there are two highly popular Chinese marketplaces: Alibaba and AliExpress. In particular, Alibaba.com is one of the largest B2B marketplaces of manufacturers, importers, and wholesale distributors.

‍ Wholesale alibaba ecommerce suppliers China ET2C

This platform was founded in 1999 and today presents millions of products spanning 40 different categories. Given its breadth of wholesale products, Alibaba is not an easy platform to work with if you are a beginner. Certainly there are suppliers on these platforms that warrant skepticism and may present pitfalls when it comes to product quality. If you’re planning to deal with an Alibaba supplier, there are a couple of issues you need to keep in mind.

Obviously, since most suppliers on the platform are Chinese companies, you’ll experience a noticeable language barrier. In addition, there is a large number of middlemen on Alibaba who try to pose as manufacturers, reselling goods from legitimate manufacturers while marking up prices. Again, do you research to ensure you are working direct with the supplier, or with who you want to partner with.

Trade shows

Over the years, trade shows have been an important tool for sourcing and introducing thousands of new products. Used as a starting point for buyers to build a solid network of vendors and select the right suppliers with whom to do business.

As well as preparatory work (creating contacts and meetings in advance), buyers have the advantage of being able to visit booths and touch and look at product opportunities – something that has been missed this past 12 months!. In a lot of cases, buyers can visit the shows and actually place orders in person based on pricing given at the booth.

Find Wholesale Suppliers China Trade show sourcing ET2C — photo credit: Shinsuke Ikegame

On the other hand attending a huge trade show in China, like the Canton Fair for example, could be exhausting. Beside the trip to China, be prepared to walk several kilometers in a daedalus of aisles and stands, in a crowd of 200,000 people (not joking).

However, with the current travel restrictions in place, many trade shows have been cancelled. The biggest ones like the Canton Fair, have survived thanks to a conversion to the digital format. Obviously, without any chances to meet in person the vendors.

Sourcing Company

Certainly, if you are planning to outsource manufacturing to low-cost countries all by yourself, you might need additional assistance.  Should you need to identify new factories, then it is important to look to a local partner who you can collaborate with to visit the sites, engage with the owners and undertake the pre-screening work that you are not able to currently do. This will provide greater visibility and allow you to still go through an objective onboarding process.

Whether you have just started searching or are looking to enhance your vendor penetration and supplier management capability, sourcing companies present opportunities that a direct sourcing model may struggle to find.

Qualified sourcing companies in China, or Asia in general, introduce expertise capable of saving time and money along every step of the process. From identifying cost-effective sourcing materials to conducting audit-level quality control checks, professional sourcing agents/companies devote care to managing their clients’ sourcing needs.

Moreover, they can arrange quality assurance checks along every step of the process to ensure early identification of any issues and present viable solutions.

Do you need help?

Certainly, the best option is partnering with a product sourcing company which has a presence on the ground in the sourcing market, product knowledge and can add value when it comes to managing the supplier from development through to shipment.

At ET2C, we provide our clients with the transparency needed to best manage their suppliers across Asia and help with any risk mitigation strategy. For more information on how we can help you, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Sourcing Trends for 2021

Industry Insights / admin / Industry, sourcing, Sourcing Trends, Trends 2021

Sourcing Trends for 2021 ET2C Int.

Sourcing Trends for the upcoming year are mired in economic uncertainty but there are definitely opportunities to watch out for.

Sourcing Trends 2020

It is true that our 2020 sourcing trends predictions failed to foresee the impending Pandemic. But, in our defense, there are not many that predicted Covid-19 and its consequences. The Pandemic had a significant impact on global sourcing. Certainly, it has highlighted the need for companies to build in greater resilience and spread risk more widely. It has been an extraordinary year for so many reasons and one which highlighted the necessity to understand the local market when sourcing from Asia both from a quality and regulatory perspective.

oronavirus covid 19 pandemic sourcing trends 2021 trade ET2C Int.

The global political landscape has continued to fracture, at a time when harmony rather than discourse would be a much more effective weapon against the spread of this virus. With protectionism unleashed, disputes and tariffs are on the rise. Australia and America are n revisiting their trading status with China for a range of different reasons.

So, what does this mean for 2021? What will be the legacy of Covid-19 on sourcing markets? What technological trends will come to the fore? Which markets will have additional tariffs added? We have again been sitting around our crystal ball to see what sourcing trends will be evident in 2021. (Obviously, we will again be pointing to our disclaimer that no one can, clearly, predict the future.)

Sourcing Trends 2021 – Our Predictions

The End of Covid-19.

A bold statement. With mass vaccination programs starting to roll out, markets should begin normalising by the end of Q2/beginning of Q3.

Prediction. We, therefore, expect categories that have been hit particularly hard due to lockdowns (such as fashion/shoes) to pick up dramatically in the second half of the year. Probably, people will start to enjoy their freedoms once more and to spend time going out and having fun. Categories that have done well during the pandemic such as DIY, homewares, kitchenware will be flat as people inevitably spend time out of the house.

Travel.

Although we expect the Pandemic to die down, it is likely that due to the differences between Governments’ approach to vaccinations, policies in place and State affordability, access to different countries will continue to be restricted. The rise of ‘vaccination diplomacy’ will lead to Governments rejecting certain vaccinations as legitimate based on political relationships.

Sourcing Trends 2021 airport travel coronavirus covid19 ET2C Int.

Prediction. Expect to not be able to visit your sourcing markets until the autumn (Q3) at the earliest. Make sure you have sufficient resource in place to therefore manage your suppliers.

Ex-China Sourcing.

The Pandemic, as a supply chain shock, highlighted the need for companies to de-risk their sourcing markets. Tariffs likely to stay in play for China/US although a de-escalation is likely between China/Australia. Both will mean spreading risk where possible across multiple markets.

Prediction. Companies will continue to embed greater resilience within their supply chains. Certainly, they will look to remove dependency on any one market where it makes sense to do so. Make sure you have the capability and reach to manage suppliers in different markets.

Blockchain.

One for all you ‘Crypto-gurus! Although on a small scale, we anticipate that the technology will begin to be implemented within complex supply chains that require greater transparency and security from a ‘track and trace’ perspective.

Blockchain Crypto currency

Prediction. Blockchain will be deployed in large corporates as key component of supply chain visibility and integrity.

Radical Supply Chain Transparency.

A key element of a sustainable supply chain and providing the consumer with complete transparency of factories, raw material origins, ethics and even carbon footprint will continue to be sourcing trends that should not be ignored. It is becoming an increasing component of any buying decision.

Prediction. There will be increased focus on visualisation of supply chains and the ability to collate information on every aspect of the supplier network. Look for this to become more prevalent to give consumers more of a choice when it comes to buying decisions (think Arket by H&M).

Sustainable Materials.

This will be an area that will continue to develop. Particularly the use of sustainable materials as substitutes for known ‘problem materials’. The Consumer will expect this.

Sustainable Products Packaging Material

Prediction. Alternative sustainable materials to start moving into the mainstream. A result of innovation as well as scale allowing for a reduction in costs that were previously prohibitive for some product categories.

The Sourcing Function.

For many companies, the Sourcing function came to the fore during the pandemic and showed agility to deliver strategic benefits to organisations during a tough trading period (if only for the survival of the company in some cases!).

Prediction. The Sourcing Function will move from a cost leadership focus (intake margin) to contributing to the overall strategy and competitiveness of an organisation. In a short time, it will include innovation, agility and resilience as key value drivers.

England to win Euro 2021.

It was not to be in 2020, and unfortunately, it is unlikely to be in 2021 with the expected cancellation of the tournament, and if not, they are not good enough anyway! Belgium, France or Italy to be the likely victors!

HAPPY NEW YEAR of the Ox.

We finished last year’s article suggesting that ‘An Air of Predictability would help manage any sourcing trends in 2020’. An ‘air of predictability’ we certainly do not have as we stare down 2021. But what we do know is that companies need to be bold, look to invest in technology and make sure the learnings of 2020 have been acted upon.

Chinese New Year Ox red lanterns ET2C Int.

At ET2C, we are always looking to the future to ensure that we are providing our clients with the most relevant services and products. Please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Brexit Impact on Global Sourcing for UK Companies

Industry Insights / admin / Brexit, sourcing, UK

Brexit Impact on Global Sourcing for UK Companies ET2C

“Brexit impact” will change how the UK ultimately purchases products from overseas but what are the immediate implications on Trade.

It has been a journey, or rather a long drawn out political fanfare with bluster and bravado on both sides but ultimately an agreement was reached on Christmas Eve 2020. From the referendum on the 23 June 2016, it took 1,645 days to reach an agreement (“The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020”) and then with only 7 days before there would have been a hard Brexit. Political drama it has been, but what does it now ultimately mean for UK companies buying products from overseas outside of Europe?

A “Global Britain”

One of the overriding central ideas of Brexit, particularly from the perspective of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “Global Britain”, is that Britain will be better placed to do trade deals as a sovereign entity. History will ultimately be the judge and jury of this assertion although it is true that in the lead up to Brexit (aside from the EU withdrawal agreement) there have been a flurry of trade deals agreed with the likes of the Faroe islands, Japan Moldova, Georgia, Kenya, Turkey and Vietnam making up some of the 60 agreements reached.

Essentially, what this means is that where there are no ‘bridging’ agreements or actual agreements agreed and ratified, then the United Kingdom will move to World Trade Organisation (“WTO”) rules, tariffs (or taxes). Essentially, this means that the WTO provides the mechanism to what the duty rates are on imported goods into the UK. This is similar to the type of arrangement that Australia currently has with the EU, although they have been eager to agree a free trade deal of sorts with the EU for almost three years (since May 2018).

Brexit sourcing UK ET2C International

Therefore, UK companies that have been buying from outside of Europe may now find themselves in a situation where prior import tariffs are likely to change, whether that is up or down will be dependent on the country of origin and the product using the Harmonized System (HS) Codes. So what does this mean for our UK clients currently looking at China, India, Turkey and Vietnam as sourcing opportunities?

ET2C Sourcing Markets

Aside from UK companies buying products from the likes of the Faroe Islands or North Macedonia, we will focus on our own markets; being China, India, Turkey and Vietnam.

1. China Sourcing

Has Brexit opened up an opportunity with regards to new relationship with China on trade? Notably the EU has just reached an agreement in principle on Investment with China on the 30th December 2020, which should lay the foundations for a future comprehensive trade deal. As a smaller trading partner, it remains to be seen if the UK can carve out its own trade deal, particularly in the current backdrop of the global political landscape. Of course, we will now be under a new regime (WTO) in the absence of an agreement, which may mean the base tariffs and duties vary from before.

Brexit Impact UK Sourcing ET2C

However, there may also be opportunities where anti-dumping tariffs (ADD) – like those that the US imposed back in 2019 – will now drop off. For example, back in 2018 there were anti-dumping duties added on e-bikes originating in China of up to 83.6%. It’s always a bit political, and in this example, although Britain had confirmed that these duties would be removed, they were reinstated just prior to Brexit as a result of UK representations being made.

2. India Sourcing

Similar to China, there has been no trade deal agreed with India either pre or post Brexit. In fact the EU has been attempting to negotiate a free trade deal since as far back as 2007. The UK will now revert to WTO trade tariffs even though India had been targeted as an opportunity to clinch an early post Brexit trade deal with one of the World’s largest economies. There was a visit planned early this year to India, but Boris Johnson has had to cancel this visit due to the latest Corona Virus surge in the UK.

3. Turkey Sourcing

Having just opened our latest sourcing office in Turkey, it is pleasing to see that the UK has already agreed a Trade Deal with Turkey that continues some of the aspects included in the EU – Turkey Customs union. This includes provisions on preferential tariffs, tariff rate quotas, rules of origin, customs and trade facilitation, intellectual property, competition and dispute settlement. There are some differences between the EU agreement and the current Britain-Turkey agreement so make sure that a further review is undertaken if you were already buying from Turkey pre-31st December 2020.

4. Vietnam Sourcing

In a last dash trip, the Trade Minister, Elisabeth Truss, visited both Singapore and Vietnam pre the year end to sign trade deals. With Vietnam, the UK has been able to largely extend the comprehensive Free Trade Agreement that was finalized in August 2020 (EVFTA). This is significant and will help Vietnam to continue selling products to Vietnam at preferential (if not zero) rates, which will be all removed over the next seven years.

Manufacture Factory Vietnam ET2C

Summary

At least now Brexit is a topic that can be consigned to the past. UK companies are still finding their feet whether it be new documentation for EU originated goods or new tariffs from countries outside the EU. In the main, there should not be too many differences at this stage for UK companies buying from China, India, Turkey or Vietnam but we would anticipate this to change going forward as and when new trade deals are agreed (or not). There will certainly be a period of bedding in but with some insight it will be possible to take opportunities as they arise as well as avoid potential pitfalls with a broad sourcing strategy.

At ET2C, we are well placed to help manage your sourcing needs across multiple markets with teams on the ground. For more information on how we can help you with all your sourcing needs and insight into the impact of Brexit, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

Photo credits:
Cover Image: Dunk
Factory in Vietnam: Eric Wolfe

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