WHAT ARE THE BEST PRODUCTS TO EXPORT?
Exports Are as Strong as Ever in Today's Market. Here's a Primer on Which Products Are Best.
Hundreds of entrepreneurs enjoy a satisfying, profitable lifestyle as export intermediaries. These are global traders who identify a product, locate a supplier, then find overseas buyers for those products. When the sale is complete, they collect a commission, then move on to find new markets and new products to sell there.
Today, exports are booming more than ever. I work with new traders every day and am often asked what are the best products to export. While I will try to answer the question, this doesn't mean these are the only products you should export. Not by a long shot. But it can be a jumping-off point to narrowing down potential products.
Now I want to give you an example of what I mean about not limiting your choices to just the biggest product lines or best customer countries. I spoke with one new exporter who wanted to export groceries to Nigeria. If he had asked me which is the worst country to export to, Nigeria may have been at the top of the list for too many reasons to list here. Similarly, trading in food products can be a daunting task for new exporters. Nevertheless, this man had contacts in Nigeria and a product in demand. I encouraged him to go ahead.
He was successful. Remember, in all export transactions, take advantage of your edge in targeting countries and products. Certain U.S. products are in high demand around the world. This does not mean you MUST export only these products to be successful. The small exporter can make a good living exporting just about anything that will sell in the U.S., as long as similar needs and conditions exist in the target country.
This is the listing of the top U.S. exports to foreign countries by order of sale:
- * Aircraft and associated equipment
* Electronic parts
* Auto parts and accessories
* Computers
* Automobiles, trucks and busses
* Telecommunication equipment and parts
* Computer parts
* Precision measuring instruments
* Engines and engine parts
* Electrical equipment
* Construction equipment
* Specialized machinery
* Musical instruments, parts, CDs
* Gold
* Tobacco products
* Paper and paperboard
* Heating and cooling equipment and parts
* Air pumps, gas compressors and fans
* Oil seeds
* Medical and dental equipment
* Miscellaneous chemical products
* Maize (corn)
* Base metal products (hinges, springs, locks, aluminum castings)
* Printed products
* Wheat
* Oil
* Arms and ammunition
This listing is designed to give you an idea of the biggest export products and is not necessarily a jumping-off point for determining the product you should export. As I said before, far more important is reviewing your "edge."
If you have experience in the lawn care industry, for example, that is the place you should start. You might want to find countries that import large quantities of lawn care products. Don't force yourself into a corner by selecting a product or target market at random. Build on your strengths.
Just as you don't want to select a product for export based solely on a list of biggest exports, so too you shouldn't select a target country just because is is one of our biggest export markets. Nevertheless, this information is useful, especially if you have an edge or advantage in one of these countries. Small exporters can make a comfortable living exporting just about anywhere. Take advantage of your edge.
Dennis Hessler is an international trade consultant and publisher who runs his own home-based trade and information company, Spyglass Point Productions. You can learn more about Dennis' international trade information products, including how-to-books, videos, software, newsletter and consulting services by contacting him directly of visiting his website.
Spyglass Point Productions PO Box 13141 Pensacola, FL 32591 Phone: 850-438-5527 http://www.spyglasspoint.com Dennis@spyglasspoint.com
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