Now is a great time to make plans for an increase in your exports in 2017. Our top tips, listed below, are specifically designed to act as a health check for your exports, as well as to inspire you to look for new opportunities to continue to grow your exports, sales and profit.
Tip 1: Find a new target market
Even if you’re on a winning streak, there is never time to rest on your laurels. Finding a new export market isn’t as difficult and time consuming as you may think. In our previous ‘Where are the biggest markets and opportunities?’ blog post, we linked to DEFRA’s UK Food and Drink International Action Plan, which is aiming to increase food exports by an additional £2.9 billion by 2020, to markets such as Australia & New Zealand, Mexico and Latin America, India, USA and Canada, China, Japan and the UAE & Gulf region.
Tip 2: Use our free Export Health Certificate tool
By using our free Export Health Certificate tool, you can quickly discover which products you can ship to which countries, and which EHC you will need to start exporting.
Tip 3: Check your import permits
Checking essential paperwork, such as your import permits, is an essential task as we go into a new year. Double check that your import permits are in date and cover your current product, and check to see if anything needs amending to cover any future products which are in development, or ready to export.
Tip 4: Check that you are on the current version of the Export Health Certificate
Some EHC are updated regularly, and older versions can get rejected, costing you time and money. If you’re in doubt, contact us and we can arrange an audit of your EHC.
Tip 5: Double check your Manufacturer declarations (Mandecs)
As well as checking your EHC are up to date, now is also a great time to double check that your Mandecs are still up to date. As well as your Mandecs, it’s also a good time to check that APHA have a list of approved signatories, that details of your suppliers and countries of origin are up to date, and that the heat treatment/processing/HACCP analysis information is correct.
Tip 6: Incoterms
Do you know your EXW from your DDP and your FCA from your DAP? If not, now is a great time to have a little refresher and update your knowledge. Take time to think about whether you know where the risk transfers, and if you are using the correct incoterm and version. A little work now will save a lot of time in the future.
Tip 7: Network, Network, Network
Never underestimate the power of networking. Many organisations, such as the local Chamber of Commerce, Department for International Trade, and the Food and Drink Exporters’ Association often hold regular meetings and networking opportunities. These types of events are great opportunities to meet new people, and to discover new business opportunities, so now is a great time to look for forthcoming events and get a networking plan in place.
Tip 8: Don’t panic about Brexit!
There has barely been a day gone by since June when Brexit wasn’t on the front page of a newspaper. The main advice that we have at the moment is not to panic. We are unlikely to know the government’s plans in the short time, and although they have indicated that they plan to trigger Article 50, which starts the two year countdown, in March 2017, little is likely to change in the short time. High level sources within DEFRA have confirmed to us that is very likely that free trade in food and animal products will be maintained with the EU.
However, with this in mind, we refer you back to Tip 1, which is to find a new target market outside of the EU. The USA and China are key target markets at the moment, but there are opportunities around the world, so if you’re looking to re-energise your exporting journey and you’d like to take advantage of our substantial experience and network of contacts, now is a great time to get in touch with us and we’ll be more than happy to help.
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