Hong Kong's exporters need to adapt to the changing demands of consumers to remain competitive in the European market, according to a Dutch official.
Rene de Koning, general logistics manager at the Holland International Distribution Council, said technology development had changed supply chains and made consumers more demanding.
Mr de Koning said yesterday that SAR companies exporting to Europe by sea faced a lead time of 18 to 30 days and between 72 and 120 hours by air.
However, locating a distribution centre on Dutch soil would create a lead time of between 12 and 48 hours.
Mr de Koning said exporters could locate a bonded warehouse in Holland, and use Dutch transport expertise to distribute their products to the rest of Europe.
'If a product is not on the shelf then a European customer won't think twice about picking up a competitor's product,' Mr de Koning said.
