As a new administration prepares to enter the White House with an eye toward revising trade agreements, research shows half of all middle market firms do business abroad
Experts have said that middle market companies dont have the same level of exposure to the global economy as the largest firms. Though thats generally true, it doesnt mean U.S. middle market companies operate entirely within the domestic economy. found that roughly half of all middle market organizations have an international presence, up significantly from two years ago.
A survey of 400 C-level middle market executives found that 54% of respondents export to foreign markets while 48% import. The number of exporters is particularly notable, as it shows a 14% increase from by the National Center for the Middle Market and the Brookings Institution. Of those companies that either import or export, 58% said they do both. Overall, middle market exporters derive 33% of total revenue from international sales.
I expected the figure for middle market exporters to be smaller, perhaps 30-40%, says , founder and CEO of , which helped conduct the survey. “This may mean that middle market companies have diversified their markets after the Great Recession so as to spread their exposure across more markets. It may also indicate that middle market companies are using more technologies, like e-commerce, that tend to increase the odds for a company to become an exporter.
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Zach Brooke is a former 蹤獲扦夥厙 staff writer turned freelance journalist. His work has been featured in Chicago magazine, Milwaukee Magazine, A.V. Club and VICE, among others. Follow him on Twitter @Zach_Brooke.