Exporting Your Goods
Goods Exporting and Asia Pacific Markets
BC firms are well positioned by way of geography and cultural links to export into Asia Pacific markets. The Port of Vancouver is closer by two days’ sailing time to ports like Shanghai, Busan, and Singapore that is the Port of Los Angeles. The port of Prince Rupert is closer still by almost a day. Despite the financial crisis of 1997-98, the priority Asia Pacific markets of China, India, and South Korea have being growing at two to three times the North American market.
China currently imports goods primarily from Japan and South Korea, with Canada ranking 19th although China is consistently one of Canada’s five export destinations. Its size and strong economic growth make China a very attractive market, though there are many challenges to exporting profitably into that market. Concerns about deterioration in the environment (air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the north) make environmental products in particular demand. There are a number of other sectors of opportunity for SME BC exporters including aerospace and defence, agricultural products, base metals and related equipment, bio-industries, building products, electric power equipment, health-related equipment, information and communication technologies, ocean technologies, rail and urban transit, and wood products.
India currently imports goods primarily from China and the U.S.A., with Canada ranking 23rd. India’s procurement of Canadian exports has grown significantly in recent years. Priority sectors include pulp and paper, automotive, metals and industrial machinery, power, transportation, and equipment for the processing, packaging and storage of agri-food. India’s infrastructure development also presents a potential market for Canadian engineering and information and communication technologies sectors. Other opportunities for SME BC exporters include building products, environmental products, and health-related equipment.
Japan also currently imports goods primarily from China and the U.S.A., with Canada ranking 13th. Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defence allocation help Japan rank as the second most technologically powerful economy in the world, after the U.S., and the world’s third-largest economy, after the U.S. and China. Japan’s industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 60 per cent of its other foods. As a result, there are opportunities for SME BC exporters in advanced materials, aerospace and defence, agricultural technology and equipment, bio-industries, chemicals, environmental products, foodstuffs, health-related equipment, and information and communication technologies.
South Korea currently imports goods primarily from Japan and China, with Canada ranking 18th. There are a number of sectors of opportunity for SME BC exporters including advanced manufacturing technologies, advanced materials, aerospace and defence, bio-industries, building products, consumer products, electric power equipment, environmental products, information and communication technologies, and rail and urban transit.