Michigan companies travel to China to expand export opportunities

Business leaders from nine Michigan companies will be in China next week meeting with prospective partners, distributors and buyers to increase export opportunities from Michigan to China.

LANSING, Mich. – Business leaders from nine Michigan companies will be in China next week meeting with prospective partners, distributors and buyers to increase export opportunities from Michigan to China. The trade mission, being led by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., is taking place in tandem with Gov. Rick Snyder’s trade mission in China Nov. 20-26.

“China is an important and viable market for a wide range of products and services,” Snyder said. “This trade mission will open doors for these companies by helping them identify and enter into new relationships there. These Michigan companies, with products ranging from architecture services to automotive components, will have a never-before-seen opportunity to reach new customers in the fastest-growing economy in the world.”

Delegates from the export mission are attending one-on-one matchmaking meetings in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The meetings will include customized appointments with prospective partners, distributors and buyers in each region. The participants will also receive an orientation on exporting and doing business in China. The mission participants will also join several of the governor’s trade mission events.

Business leaders and economists estimate large potential growth opportunities for Michigan in China:

• China is Michigan’s third largest export market. Michigan companies exported nearly $4.1 billion in goods and materials to China in 2013, up 28 percent from $3.3 billion in 2012.
• Transportation and auto-related equipment was the largest export item, at more than $2.6 billion in 2013.
• In 2013, Michigan ranked eighth in U.S. exports to China.
• Over the past eight years, Michigan exports to China have risen almost 500 percent.

The participating companies are:

• Air and Liquid Systems, Inc. (paint finishing) – Rochester
• ATCO Industries (automotive) – Sterling Heights
• Coffee Beanery (coffee franchises) – Flushing
• Corrigan Air and Sea Cargo (logistics) – Romulus
• Global Electronics (auto electronics) – Southfield
• Huron Technologies (chemicals) – Leslie
• KC Jones Plating (chemicals) – Warren
• SmithGroup JJR Incorporated (architecture and engineering services) – Ann Arbor
• Tranor Industries (automotive) – Detroit

Muskegon-based Lorin Industries, a manufacturer of coil anodized aluminum finishing solutions, has participated in two of Snyder’s trade missions to China and has seen an increase in sales as a result of those trips.

“The two trade missions that we were included in really gave us an understanding of the potential for Lorin to do business in China,” said Lorin President Park Kersman. “This mission is an opportunity to have access to people who have a good understanding of international business. They learn about your company so they can help identify opportunities, really shortening the process that would otherwise be very arduous and challenging.”

To view a video on Lorin Industries, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_KXJ1KfyFU.

The trip marks the Snyder administration’s fourth mission to Asia and 11th investment mission since taking office in January 2011. Other missions led by Snyder or Lt. Gov. Brian Calley have been to Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, Israel and Canada. More details on Snyder’s upcoming mission will be announced the week of Nov. 17.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.