It’s common knowledge that sourcing products from Asia is less expensive than in other parts of the world. To understand why sourcing in Europe is as effective as sourcing in China, we have to go back to history and analyze the world’s leading economic-industrial powers.
Germany is the richest country in Europe and the fourth largest economic-industrial power in the world! It all started when factories arrived to the Ruhr and Reno river valleys and found deposits of iron, coal and a very strategic transportation route, that facilitated industrial production for exports.
These rivers connect Germany to the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the largest European cargo port. In this region you can also find the most important urban-industrial concentration cities in Europe, such as Frankfurt and Cologne. Due to its strategic location, there has been public and private investments for a complete modernization of the region, aiming to build a technopole.Among the large industrial groups in Germany are Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Adidas, Puma and Bayer.
On the other hand, Germany’s south-west neighbor, France, was the second country in the world to industrialize. The first industries in France consisted of textiles and steel mills and coal deposits in the north-east region which, nowadays, continues to be the leading place for French iron and steel production. Today, France is the highest nuclear power for the supply of industrial energy in Europe.Peugeot, Renault andAirbus (world’s largest aircraft and automobile manufactures) are French companies.
The United Kingdom had the first industrial activity in the world and has considerable reserves of iron ore and coal. The first industrial segments they developed were the textile, steel and naval industries located near the ports, and other sources of energy such as coal.
Nowadays you can find technopoles in England, making the country stand out on the electronics, aeronautics, telecommunications industries and more. It’s also consideredto be the third most important economy in Europe.
Europe was a pioneer in world industrial development. The abundance of natural resources such as iron and coal and wealth in the period of commercial capitalism were factors that contributed to this pioneering activity.
Relying on China to source and procure goods is not your only option. These European countries are potential product and raw material suppliers located in very strategic geographical locations. Luckily for you Alpha Sourcing has the ability to connect you with this market. Contact us for further information on how to build your company’s portfolio in Europe.
