When: Thursday, March 29th
Time: Noon-1:15pm
Cost: $50 Member
$65 Non-Member
Register at http://www.kansaswtc.org/education_training-webinars-list.php
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Worst Winter in Europe in 30 years
We have received reports of many ‘Cold Weather’ issues being reported throughout Russia & Europe the past couple of weeks. The majority of the shipping problems are ice blockages.
We normally see winter ‘ice’ problems in the ‘Russian’ areas (St. Petersburg, Odessa, etc.) and northern Europe areas (Estonia, Latvia, Finland, etc.) and have ‘ice breaker’ ships working that area constantly. This year however, they cannot stay ahead of the rapidly freezing channels & coastal waterways so delays are now even longer than normal.
This year even Germany Rivers with heavy ‘ice’ are causing problems, and effecting traffic to/from Hamburg. Similar problems exist in Romania/ Black Sea as well.
Even places as far south as the canals of Venice are blocked or partially blocked by ice. Most say this is the worst winter in Europe in 30 years. Regret that we may have issues with anything to or from this area via surface freight that has to move or deliver very quickly over the next several weeks. This will also throw what is normally very consistent sailing/ arrival schedules to/from the USA ports off schedule as well.
Cargo is still moving but just slower than normal. If you have any ‘hot’ moves for this area, please be advised of the severe winter situation in this part of the world and in some cases, air freight may need to be considered.
Source: Roger A. Stuart, Held & Associates, Inc.
We normally see winter ‘ice’ problems in the ‘Russian’ areas (St. Petersburg, Odessa, etc.) and northern Europe areas (Estonia, Latvia, Finland, etc.) and have ‘ice breaker’ ships working that area constantly. This year however, they cannot stay ahead of the rapidly freezing channels & coastal waterways so delays are now even longer than normal.
This year even Germany Rivers with heavy ‘ice’ are causing problems, and effecting traffic to/from Hamburg. Similar problems exist in Romania/ Black Sea as well.
Even places as far south as the canals of Venice are blocked or partially blocked by ice. Most say this is the worst winter in Europe in 30 years. Regret that we may have issues with anything to or from this area via surface freight that has to move or deliver very quickly over the next several weeks. This will also throw what is normally very consistent sailing/ arrival schedules to/from the USA ports off schedule as well.
Cargo is still moving but just slower than normal. If you have any ‘hot’ moves for this area, please be advised of the severe winter situation in this part of the world and in some cases, air freight may need to be considered.
Source: Roger A. Stuart, Held & Associates, Inc.
Looking To Expand Into New Export Markets?
State Trade & Export Promotion Grants Program
(STEP)
If you are a Kansas company that is looking for financial assistance to expand your existing international markets or enter into new export markets, then we encourage you to consider this program!
The Kansas Department of Commerce and the Department of Agriculture have been awarded a grant of more than $505,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Promotion Grants Program (STEP).
Please feel free to download the guidelines and application below:
http://www.kansascommerce.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=904
http://www.kansascommerce.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=871
Contact:
Nathalie Scharf – STEP Manager
International Trade Representative
STEP Grant Manager
Phone: (913) 345-8072
Fax: (913) 345-8094
http://www.kansascommerce.com/trade
(STEP)
If you are a Kansas company that is looking for financial assistance to expand your existing international markets or enter into new export markets, then we encourage you to consider this program!
The Kansas Department of Commerce and the Department of Agriculture have been awarded a grant of more than $505,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Promotion Grants Program (STEP).
Please feel free to download the guidelines and application below:
http://www.kansascommerce.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=904
http://www.kansascommerce.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=871
Contact:
Nathalie Scharf – STEP Manager
International Trade Representative
STEP Grant Manager
Phone: (913) 345-8072
Fax: (913) 345-8094
http://www.kansascommerce.com/trade
Friday, February 10, 2012
New KWTC Member
The Kansas World Trade Center is happy to announce their newest member!
*Harvey County Economic Development Council
~Welcome to the KWTC Family!
*Harvey County Economic Development Council
~Welcome to the KWTC Family!
FORECASTS FOR AGRIBUSINESS DECISIONMAKERS
News from the Kiplinger Agriculture Letter
Future Outlook:
The fastest-growing market for U.S. ag goods? The Pacific Rim….China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and Indonesia.
Farm exports to the region will hit $62 billion next year, more than tripling in value over a decade. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will help to boost U.S. foreign sales to Pacific Rim countries. Expect the trade agreement to take effect in 2013.
Southeast Asia alone will buy $12 billion worth of farm goods from the U.S., nearly doubling its buying since 2009 and exceeding the value of European Union purchases for the first time.
Other solid growth prospects for U.S. ag exports:
The Middle East and northern Africa. U.S. sales there have tripled since 2001, and will reach $12 billion in 2012, about half of which will go to Turkey and Egypt.
Latin America will continue its run as a top growth market for years. Latin America’s close proximity to the U.S. allows for easy flows of fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, and more as seasons alternate between the U.S. and its southern neighbors. Farm exports to them have almost tripled by value in the past decade, to $12 billion this year, and will soon be 10% of U.S. farm exports.
Livestock and Meat:
U.S. poultry producers will take on India in the World Trade Org. in order to open up an enormous expanding market. Even though New Delhi has banned poultry product imports since 2006, when avian flu appeared in some U.S. poultry operations, U.S. producers are challenging the prohibition on grounds that global animal health standards don’t see the flu as sufficient cause. A victory will take years but can mean $300 million a year in sales to India.
Crops:
Organic wheat proves to be more profitable than conventionally grown wheat, says a USDA study of 2009 wheat production in four U.S regions. Organic farmers pay less for fertilizers because they use animal and plant wastes and fewer purchased fertilizers to enhance productivity of the soil. But their costs of seed and overhead, including typically priced cropland, are higher. And organic wheat fetches higher prices: In 2009, $8-$9/bu vs. $4.60-$6.00/bu for conventional.
Coming soon, crop insurance for camelina, an oilseed. It’ll available on a pilot basis next year in N.D. and Mont., according to USDA.
Up North:
Canadian Wheat Board (CWD) control of all Canadian wheat exports end in August, as ordered by Canada’s parliament. For U.S. producers, the result will include more competition in the border areas whenever Canadian growers find price advantages in trucking grain into the U.S. when conditions favor exports of low-quality wheat to feed livestock, for example. The CWD sell 40-50 times as much wheat to the U.S. as the U.S. exports to Canada.
Canadians will often get higher prices than the CWB offers. But, the CWB will have less power to derail U.S. export prices, a boost to U.S. farmers.
Farm Labor:
With more than 20 states having passed laws to block undocumented workers, who are the majority of U.S. farm laborers, the shortage is expected to grow even more acute for the coming growing season.
Worker scarcities cost farmers millions of dollars, stemming from crops that go bad in the field because there aren’t enough workers to harvest them. To minimize crop losses in 2012, many farmers will plant fewer acres, and turn to more mechanization where possible to make up for lack of help.
Farm Kids:
The Labor Department will ease pending rules pertaining to some kids under 16 who work on farms. The agency caught an earful from farm advocates who feel that the rules erode farm families’ statutory exemption from workplace safety rules. The law leaves the safety of kids in farm families up to the parents. Meanwhile, these parents want to make sure that coming federal requirements for kids to work only on tractors equipped with roll bars and seat belts continue to exclude their children.
Taxes:
Governments of all stripes are stepping up tax audits of businesses. Look for random line-by-line IRS audits of small corporations to start soon. Examiners will check 2010 returns of 2,500 or so firms with assets of under $250,000, searching for noncompliance.
Fuel and Energy:
U.S. ethanol refineries are going to squeeze a lot more fuel out of their corn. Besides ethanol, more refineries are starting to extract corn oil, which is used to make biodiesel and feed products. Poet, the top U.S. ethanol maker, is already extracting the oil at six of its plants and will eventually expand the process to all 27 of its facilities. Other producers are sure to follow Poet’s lead.
Natural Resources:
President Obama’s long-term response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: he’ll dole out $50 million to farmers in watersheds along the Gulf Coast, helping them to improve water quality in the region’s rivers and estuaries. At USDA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will direct funds to projects done jointly with local groups of farmers as a way to maximize water quality and fishery benefits.
Farm Credit:
USDA is offering beginning farmers a new choice in credit when buying land: contract for deed, a mortgage alternative that lets them make payments, with interest, to the seller. After January 1, farmers in business for fewer than 10 years can ask USDA to guarantee 90% of their contract payments or, as another option, ask USDA to make up to three years’ payments plus cover the real estate taxes and insurance on the land if the buyer can’t.
Wildlife:
Farms and ranches are hard on wildlife habitat, right? Not necessarily, says a study of 30 species of birds and other wildlife by British scientists. Research shows that many threatened species depend on farms to survive and that many whose populations are under pressure are thriving because of feed, cover and other resources found on traditional farms all around the globe.
Source: The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Contact:
Karyn Page, Kansas World Trade Center
T: 1-316-264-5982
125 N. Market, Ste 1260
Wichita, KS 67202 USA
The Kansas World Trade Center (KWTC) is a member of the World Trade Centers Association. Since 1994, KWTC’s education, communication and research services have helped customers generate more than $165 million in international sales, with projected sales of over $13 billion. www.kansaswtc.org
Future Outlook:
The fastest-growing market for U.S. ag goods? The Pacific Rim….China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and Indonesia.
Farm exports to the region will hit $62 billion next year, more than tripling in value over a decade. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will help to boost U.S. foreign sales to Pacific Rim countries. Expect the trade agreement to take effect in 2013.
Southeast Asia alone will buy $12 billion worth of farm goods from the U.S., nearly doubling its buying since 2009 and exceeding the value of European Union purchases for the first time.
Other solid growth prospects for U.S. ag exports:
The Middle East and northern Africa. U.S. sales there have tripled since 2001, and will reach $12 billion in 2012, about half of which will go to Turkey and Egypt.
Latin America will continue its run as a top growth market for years. Latin America’s close proximity to the U.S. allows for easy flows of fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, and more as seasons alternate between the U.S. and its southern neighbors. Farm exports to them have almost tripled by value in the past decade, to $12 billion this year, and will soon be 10% of U.S. farm exports.
Livestock and Meat:
U.S. poultry producers will take on India in the World Trade Org. in order to open up an enormous expanding market. Even though New Delhi has banned poultry product imports since 2006, when avian flu appeared in some U.S. poultry operations, U.S. producers are challenging the prohibition on grounds that global animal health standards don’t see the flu as sufficient cause. A victory will take years but can mean $300 million a year in sales to India.
Crops:
Organic wheat proves to be more profitable than conventionally grown wheat, says a USDA study of 2009 wheat production in four U.S regions. Organic farmers pay less for fertilizers because they use animal and plant wastes and fewer purchased fertilizers to enhance productivity of the soil. But their costs of seed and overhead, including typically priced cropland, are higher. And organic wheat fetches higher prices: In 2009, $8-$9/bu vs. $4.60-$6.00/bu for conventional.
Coming soon, crop insurance for camelina, an oilseed. It’ll available on a pilot basis next year in N.D. and Mont., according to USDA.
Up North:
Canadian Wheat Board (CWD) control of all Canadian wheat exports end in August, as ordered by Canada’s parliament. For U.S. producers, the result will include more competition in the border areas whenever Canadian growers find price advantages in trucking grain into the U.S. when conditions favor exports of low-quality wheat to feed livestock, for example. The CWD sell 40-50 times as much wheat to the U.S. as the U.S. exports to Canada.
Canadians will often get higher prices than the CWB offers. But, the CWB will have less power to derail U.S. export prices, a boost to U.S. farmers.
Farm Labor:
With more than 20 states having passed laws to block undocumented workers, who are the majority of U.S. farm laborers, the shortage is expected to grow even more acute for the coming growing season.
Worker scarcities cost farmers millions of dollars, stemming from crops that go bad in the field because there aren’t enough workers to harvest them. To minimize crop losses in 2012, many farmers will plant fewer acres, and turn to more mechanization where possible to make up for lack of help.
Farm Kids:
The Labor Department will ease pending rules pertaining to some kids under 16 who work on farms. The agency caught an earful from farm advocates who feel that the rules erode farm families’ statutory exemption from workplace safety rules. The law leaves the safety of kids in farm families up to the parents. Meanwhile, these parents want to make sure that coming federal requirements for kids to work only on tractors equipped with roll bars and seat belts continue to exclude their children.
Taxes:
Governments of all stripes are stepping up tax audits of businesses. Look for random line-by-line IRS audits of small corporations to start soon. Examiners will check 2010 returns of 2,500 or so firms with assets of under $250,000, searching for noncompliance.
Fuel and Energy:
U.S. ethanol refineries are going to squeeze a lot more fuel out of their corn. Besides ethanol, more refineries are starting to extract corn oil, which is used to make biodiesel and feed products. Poet, the top U.S. ethanol maker, is already extracting the oil at six of its plants and will eventually expand the process to all 27 of its facilities. Other producers are sure to follow Poet’s lead.
Natural Resources:
President Obama’s long-term response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: he’ll dole out $50 million to farmers in watersheds along the Gulf Coast, helping them to improve water quality in the region’s rivers and estuaries. At USDA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will direct funds to projects done jointly with local groups of farmers as a way to maximize water quality and fishery benefits.
Farm Credit:
USDA is offering beginning farmers a new choice in credit when buying land: contract for deed, a mortgage alternative that lets them make payments, with interest, to the seller. After January 1, farmers in business for fewer than 10 years can ask USDA to guarantee 90% of their contract payments or, as another option, ask USDA to make up to three years’ payments plus cover the real estate taxes and insurance on the land if the buyer can’t.
Wildlife:
Farms and ranches are hard on wildlife habitat, right? Not necessarily, says a study of 30 species of birds and other wildlife by British scientists. Research shows that many threatened species depend on farms to survive and that many whose populations are under pressure are thriving because of feed, cover and other resources found on traditional farms all around the globe.
Source: The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Contact:
Karyn Page, Kansas World Trade Center
T: 1-316-264-5982
125 N. Market, Ste 1260
Wichita, KS 67202 USA
The Kansas World Trade Center (KWTC) is a member of the World Trade Centers Association. Since 1994, KWTC’s education, communication and research services have helped customers generate more than $165 million in international sales, with projected sales of over $13 billion. www.kansaswtc.org
Meet Your Kansas World Trade Center Staff
2012 Kansas World Trade Center Staff
Karyn Page
CEO/President
Phone: +1 (316) 264.5982
Fax: +1 (316) 264.5983
Email: page@kansaswtc.org
Karyn began her professional career with the Kansas World Trade Center as an international business advisor before advancing to the position of Director of Trade Services. Karyn was an Export and Marketing Manager for a local manufacturing company, and Assistant Vice President & International Marketing Director for INTRUST Bank N.A. before returning to the Center as President/CEO in 2004. She is a frequent guest speaker at industry and community forums and is an adjunct professor at Friends University. In 2006, she was appointed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Small & Minority Businesses (ITAC-11) serving as an advisor on matters of international trade to the US Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative.
Tyler Walston
Membership & Business Development Administrator
Email: walston@kansaswtc.org
Tyler graduated from Friends University in 2010 with a BS in Business Administration, emphasis in International Business. He worked in sales for almost two years at New York Life Insurance Company, and came to the Kansas World Trade Center in April of 2011 to focus on Membership & Business Development. As the Membership & Business Development Administrator, he is responsible for implementing the established business plan, and cultivating relationships throughout the world that could be beneficial to our members and Kansas importers & exporters. Tyler works with companies of all sizes in many different industries such as; aviation, agri-business, & eco-business. He specializes in business development, market research, trade compliance (ITAR/EAR), and consulting.
Phoebe Holeman
Operations Administrator and Seminar & Events Coordinator
Email: holeman@kansaswtc.org
Phoebe will graduate this semester from WSU with a degree in economics and minor in finance. Before coming to the Kansas World Trade Center, Phoebe worked for NetWork Kansas, a non profit organization that helps KS entrepreneurs and small businesses get the funding they need through local resources and NetKS loans. Phoebe is responsible for the planning and coordinating of Kansas World Trade Center Events & Seminars, and handles new hires, paperwork, and accounting obligations.
Ella Reusser
EcoPartnership Administrator & Marketing Manager
Email: reusser@kansaswtc.org
Ella graduated from Kansas State University in 2008 with a BS in Business Administration/ Marketing, and a minor in spanish. After moving to Wichita, she worked for the American Cancer Society and earned a Masters in Business Administration, emphasis in International Business, from Newman University in 2010. She has also worked as Marketing Coordinator for Howard + Helmer architecture. As the EcoPartnership Administrator, she is responsible for the overall planning, organizing, execution, and monitoring of the Wichita-Wuxi EcoPartnership in order to achieve specific goals. Ella is also responsible for the marketing of the Kansas World Trade Center.
Grace Cha
Membership & Business Development Assistant
Email: cha@kansaswtc.org
Grace is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and a minor in Accounting from Newman University. She will graduate in May 2013. Grace is actively involved with Newman’s newspaper, The Vantage, and been a part of various student leadership positions. Grace is responsible for assisting with Business Development and Client Relations.
Angie Trujillo
EcoPartnership Assistant & Marketing Assistant
Email: tradeservices1@kansaswtc.org
Angie is a fluent Spanish speaker from Bogota, Colombia. She is currently finishing up her degree in Business Management with a minor in International Studies from Newman University. Come May, she will have finished her degree in 3 years and graduated from the honors program as well. Angie is also actively involved on campus. She is the Editor in Chief of the newspaper, The Vantage and President of of the Social Entrepreneurship Club and UNICEF, as well as Vice President of the Multicultural Leadership Organization. Angie is responsible for the marketing of the Kansas World Trade Center.
Karyn Page
CEO/President
Phone: +1 (316) 264.5982
Fax: +1 (316) 264.5983
Email: page@kansaswtc.org
Karyn began her professional career with the Kansas World Trade Center as an international business advisor before advancing to the position of Director of Trade Services. Karyn was an Export and Marketing Manager for a local manufacturing company, and Assistant Vice President & International Marketing Director for INTRUST Bank N.A. before returning to the Center as President/CEO in 2004. She is a frequent guest speaker at industry and community forums and is an adjunct professor at Friends University. In 2006, she was appointed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Small & Minority Businesses (ITAC-11) serving as an advisor on matters of international trade to the US Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative.
Tyler Walston
Membership & Business Development Administrator
Email: walston@kansaswtc.org
Tyler graduated from Friends University in 2010 with a BS in Business Administration, emphasis in International Business. He worked in sales for almost two years at New York Life Insurance Company, and came to the Kansas World Trade Center in April of 2011 to focus on Membership & Business Development. As the Membership & Business Development Administrator, he is responsible for implementing the established business plan, and cultivating relationships throughout the world that could be beneficial to our members and Kansas importers & exporters. Tyler works with companies of all sizes in many different industries such as; aviation, agri-business, & eco-business. He specializes in business development, market research, trade compliance (ITAR/EAR), and consulting.
Phoebe Holeman
Operations Administrator and Seminar & Events Coordinator
Email: holeman@kansaswtc.org
Phoebe will graduate this semester from WSU with a degree in economics and minor in finance. Before coming to the Kansas World Trade Center, Phoebe worked for NetWork Kansas, a non profit organization that helps KS entrepreneurs and small businesses get the funding they need through local resources and NetKS loans. Phoebe is responsible for the planning and coordinating of Kansas World Trade Center Events & Seminars, and handles new hires, paperwork, and accounting obligations.
Ella Reusser
EcoPartnership Administrator & Marketing Manager
Email: reusser@kansaswtc.org
Ella graduated from Kansas State University in 2008 with a BS in Business Administration/ Marketing, and a minor in spanish. After moving to Wichita, she worked for the American Cancer Society and earned a Masters in Business Administration, emphasis in International Business, from Newman University in 2010. She has also worked as Marketing Coordinator for Howard + Helmer architecture. As the EcoPartnership Administrator, she is responsible for the overall planning, organizing, execution, and monitoring of the Wichita-Wuxi EcoPartnership in order to achieve specific goals. Ella is also responsible for the marketing of the Kansas World Trade Center.
Grace Cha
Membership & Business Development Assistant
Email: cha@kansaswtc.org
Grace is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and a minor in Accounting from Newman University. She will graduate in May 2013. Grace is actively involved with Newman’s newspaper, The Vantage, and been a part of various student leadership positions. Grace is responsible for assisting with Business Development and Client Relations.
Angie Trujillo
EcoPartnership Assistant & Marketing Assistant
Email: tradeservices1@kansaswtc.org
Angie is a fluent Spanish speaker from Bogota, Colombia. She is currently finishing up her degree in Business Management with a minor in International Studies from Newman University. Come May, she will have finished her degree in 3 years and graduated from the honors program as well. Angie is also actively involved on campus. She is the Editor in Chief of the newspaper, The Vantage and President of of the Social Entrepreneurship Club and UNICEF, as well as Vice President of the Multicultural Leadership Organization. Angie is responsible for the marketing of the Kansas World Trade Center.
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