What kind of companies tend to use the postal services for exports?
Mauro Marcondes: In Brazil the service has been used in a wide of sectors, the most active participants being small manufacturers of small, lightweight finished goods, such as car parts, an important sector in Sao Paulo where the auto industry relies on many small suppliers. Other common small business exports include jewelry, lingerie, cosmetics, porcelain and even doggie clothes (taking advantage of opposite seasons). These are the kind of sectors Peru and Uruguay have targeted for their respective “Exporta Fácil” services that will be implemented under the MIF program. Chasqui: Why is Exporta Fácil an attractive service for small business ? Mauro Marcondes: Logistic services for exports have been traditionally expensive throughout Latin America. In Brazil, micro and small business had to add an additional 16 percent to the value of their products in order to cover export costs (including shipping and customs) before the Exporta Fácil program. Now the cost is down to only one percent
