New Age of Trade
1-16-2009
"Deteriorating global economies, erratic fuel costs, and regional free trade policies are prompting manufacturers and supply chain professionals to take a closer look at location advantages offered throughout the Americas," said Maria Sicola, executive managing director of research for Cushman & Wakefield, who is responsible for overseeing the study. "As a result, attractive manufacturing opportunities in Central and South America are emerging and this is having a major influence on distribution systems throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, U.S. and Canada."
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has significantly reduced restrictions on trade regionally in the Americas. This combined with unpredictable fuel costs; traffic congestion in major U.S. ports; the expansion of the Panama Canal and an integration of the economies in the Americas; is contributing to dramatic changes in global trading.
The economic climate is placing cost pressure on the manufacturing of goods in China for distribution in the U.S. This is lending support for the development of more manufacturing centers in Central and South America. In turn, these trends are affecting supply chain management strategies throughout the U.S and Canada which are now focusing on the Caribbean as a more strategic hub.
Mexico, Caribbean port countries, and secondary distribution hubs in Canada and the U.S., all stand to gain from a recent shift toward the near sourcing of goods along more cost effective trade routes.
Development opportunities for manufacturing centers in the Western Hemisphere and modifications to major trade routes are fueling the interests of international real estate investors hoping to tap new markets and utilize new cost saving best-practices in industrial park design and operations.
Project Announcements
Spiritus Technologies PBC Plans Santa Fe, New Mexico, Operations
07/10/2025
Taiwan-Based Eurocharm Group Plans Kershaw County, South Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
07/10/2025
Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems Plans Simpson County, Kentucky, Manufacturing Operations
07/10/2025
Atlantic Union Bank Expands Henrico, Virginia, Operations
07/10/2025
AssetMark Plans Charlotte, North Carolina, Operations
07/09/2025
Citigroup Plans Charlotte, North Carolina, Operations
07/09/2025
Most Read
-
20th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
Q2 2025
-
In Focus: AI Is Changing Incentives Math
Q2 2025
-
First Person: Joe Capes, CEO, LiquidStack
Q2 2025
-
How to Choose the Right Site for Your Factory in 2025’s Volatile Landscape
Q2 2025
-
The Legal Limits of DEI in Incentives Agreements, Hiring, and Contracting
Q2 2025
-
From Silicon to Server: Mapping the Data Center Supply Chain
Q2 2025
-
Rethinking Life Sciences Site Selection in a Resilient and Dynamic Market
Q2 2025