World Trade - March 2009 - (Page 28) LOGISTICS FORWARDERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO COMPANIES WITH Latin America on their Mind Near sourcing is re-drawing the supply chain. BY KAREN E. THUERMER A 28 WORLD TRADE MARCH merican manufacturers and retailers have long associated Mexico and countries within Central America as challenged by inadequate infrastructures that contribute to costly and limited truck, rail and water transportation services. But as supply chains increasingly look to near sourcing, stung by factors such as increased shipping charges and quality concerns surrounding imports from China, these markets are becoming increasingly important to U.S. companies. And with this heightened attention, has come an impetus to improve freight forwarding capabilities in the region. Take the case, for example, of FCI Automotive, the fourth largest manufacturer of automotive connectors in the world. FCI opened light manufacturing operations in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in May 2007 to dimin2009 ish costs and supply U.S. carmakers in Mexico and the United States. “U.S. carmakers are in trouble and are looking at every way to cut costs,” comments Marcelo Rocha, FCI general manager in San Pedro Sula. “Facing tighter margins, suppliers like us are also trying to put in place more production sites in lower cost countries, such as Honduras.” While Honduras might seem farther afield to the United States than Mexico, Rocha confirms that ships departing its major seaport, Puerto Cortes, on its Caribbean coast are within an easy two-day voyage to the ports of Houston, Miami and New Orleans. In addition, Puerto Cortes operates as the largest and deepest port in Central America and is connected to San Pedro Sula via a modern, four-lane highway. Plus clearing U.S. Customs is expedited since Puerto Cortes is the
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