Essentially, if you are importing goods into the country this means you will be bringing products in from an external source – into your registered country from another country. In contrast, exporting is the process of a company selling goods and services to companies or consumers in a different country. 

 

Exports are of vital importance to any modern economy as they provide new opportunities and new markets for companies to sell their goods to. While figures are constantly changing, the United Kingdom is generally considered to be among one of the top five global exporters, alongside China, France, Germany and the United States. 

 

There are a number of advantages to companies that find opportunities to export their products and services. Not only do exports provide the chance to increase sales and profits, but there is also the potential that by exporting goods to a different country you can create new markets or expand existing ones. 

 

This can also give a business or organisation the scope to capture significant global market share. As a further advantage to exporting, companies that spread business risk across multiple markets through the diversification that exporting provides protect themselves from changes in local market conditions and can also develop economies of scale as turnover increases. 

 

As increased demand leads to a greater need for productivity, this paves the way for the expansion of operations and often results in the reduction of cost per unit. By exporting into international markets, businesses can also expect to widen their knowledge and expertise, with further potential for the discovery of new technologies and a better insight into how competitors operate. This in turn can help a company find where improvements in their own efficiency might be made. 

 

In contrast to an export, an import is a product or service that originates in another country and is bought into a country to be sold or create a component part in a wider product or service package. It is these elements of imports and exports that are the core components of international trade. 

 

Countries most often import goods or services that can be produced more efficiently and more cheaply abroad before being imported for sale in their own country. Another common import are raw materials or commodities that are not available at all, or at least not sufficiently to meet the demand within their own country. 

 

Historically, fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil have been critical commodities within the global markets as countries look to import oil or gas to meet their energy supply needs that they cannot meet from their own resources. 

 

Expanding opportunities for global trade is at the heart of much governmental diplomacy and foreign policy, helping to support exports and imports that are mutually beneficial for trading parties across the world. Equally, that balance of import and export is an important feature of a nation’s economic make up. 

 

If you are looking to start an import/export business or you are already importing or exporting goods and want to improve your processes to boost profits, then Colbea is here to help – click here to read more. Our highly experienced import and export experts are available to talk you through best practices and give 1 on 1 advice during our training courses to help you get the best out of your business.