Coffee Beanery, Other Michigan Companies Join China Trade Mission

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Business leaders from various Michigan companies, including Flushing-based Coffee Beanery and Romulus-based Corrigan Air and Sea Cargo, are headed this week to China to discuss export opportunities with prospective partners, distributors, and buyers.

The trade mission, led by Michigan Economic Development Corp., is taking place in tandem with Gov. Rick Snyder’s trade mission to China from Nov. 20-26.

“China is an important and viable market for a wide range of products and services,” Snyder says. “This trade mission will open doors for these companies by helping them identify and enter into new relationships there. These Michigan companies, with products ranging from architectural services to automotive components, will have a never-before-seen opportunity to reach new customers in the fastest-growing economy in the world.”

Over the past eight years, Michigan exports to China have risen nearly five times over, making China the state’s third largest export market. In 2013, Michigan exported nearly $4.1 billion in goods and materials, ranking the state eighth in U.S. exports to China.

The trade mission will stop in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, with participating businesses including Air and Liquid Systems Inc. in Rochester; ATCO Industries in Sterling Heights; Global Electronics in Southfield; Huron Technologies in Leslie; KC Jones Plating in Warren; SmithGroup JJR Incorporate in Ann Arbor; and Tranor Industries in Detroit.

The trip marks the Snyder’s fourth mission to Asia, and 11th investment mission since taking office in January 2011.

Park Kersman, president of Lorin Industries, which manufactures coil anodized aluminum finishing solutions in Muskegon, says his business has seen an increase in sales since participating in two previous trade missions.

“(The trade missions) really gave us an understanding of the potential for Lorin to do business in China,” Kersman says. “This mission is an opportunity to have access to people who have a good understanding of international business. They learn about your company so they can help identify opportunities, really shortening the process that would otherwise be very arduous and challenging.”