Blog Category: General
Trade Update June #4: Morocco, US-UK FTA, India, Taiwan
Benteler, the German automotive supplier, has officially commenced construction of its new manufacturing facility in Kenitra, Morocco, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on June 24, was attended by key dignitaries including Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, and Matthias Siemer, President of Benteler Automotive Components Europe.
Trade Update June #3: Amazon, Chips, Modi, Sweden, AI Sweden
Amazon has announced a $10 billion investment in North Carolina to expand its data center infrastructure and establish a new AI innovation hub. The investment, one of the largest in the state’s history, will be centered in Richmond County and is expected to create at least 500 high-skilled jobs. These roles will span data center engineering, network operations, security, and AI infrastructure management, with thousands more jobs supported indirectly through construction and the broader AWS supply chain.
Trade Update June #2: Monex, Surecomp, Yuno, Coco Robotics
Monex Grupo Financiero, a prominent financial institution in Mexico, has successfully modernised its trade finance operations by implementing Surecomp’s cloud-native solutions, marking a significant step in its digital transformation journey. The upgrade involves the deployment of Surecomp’s flagship back-office platform, DOKA-NG, alongside its front-end customer portal, allNETT. This transition replaces Monex’s legacy systems and is designed to enhance operational efficiency, customer engagement, and scalability in trade finance services.
Trade Update June #1: India, EU-Thailand, Scottish Salmon, Payments, Medtech, Denmark, Batteries
Shoolagiri, Tamil Nadu – May 28, 2025 — Schaeffler India, a leading manufacturer of automotive and industrial components, has inaugurated its fifth manufacturing facility in India, located in Shoolagiri, Tamil Nadu. This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to strengthening its local manufacturing footprint and supporting India’s growing demand for advanced mobility solutions. The new facility spans a total plot of 108,000 square meters, with the first phase covering 16,500 square meters. This phase is expected to reach full operational capacity by the fourth quarter of 2025. The plant will focus on producing powertrain and chassis components, including technologies for both conventional and hybrid vehicles.
Trade Update May #4: Swedish solar, Welsh manufacturing, Spanish tech, Welsh chem
German energy company Uniper has announced plans to construct its first solar power farms in Sweden, marking a significant step in the company’s broader push toward renewable energy. The project will be developed in partnership with Solgrid, a solar energy provider, and will include two facilities—Segaas and Segerhult—located in central Sweden. The combined capacity of the two solar farms is expected to reach 35 megawatts (MW). Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with completion anticipated by 2027.
Trade Update May #3: Boeing, Foxconn, Schneider, Labviva, Lucid
Boeing has officially opened its third distribution center in Germany, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing customer support and supply chain efficiency across Europe. The new facility, located in Dormagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, marks a significant milestone in Boeing’s global logistics strategy. Spanning over 4,500 square meters, the Dormagen center will house more than 9,000 unique spare parts for Boeing aircraft, including large components such as landing gear. This expansion is designed to reduce delivery times for major European airline customers, enabling faster repairs and more efficient maintenance.
Trade Update May #2: Finland, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, UKEF
The European Commission has announced €52 million to support nine renewable energy projects in Finland and Estonia. This funding, provided through the EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism, aims to enhance the renewable energy capacity of the EU while fostering cross-border cooperation among member states.
Trade Update May #1: BYD, Wyoming, Imperial, SkinSapiens, SoilPoint, Korea
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Auto Co has commenced construction of a new assembly plant in the coastal Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on April 28, 2025, marks a major milestone for both BYD and Cambodia. The new facility represents an investment of approximately $32 million and is expected to have an initial production capacity of 10,000 vehicles annually. The plant will operate as a Completely Knocked Down facility, importing vehicle components for final assembly at the local site. Spanning 12 hectares, the construction is slated for completion by October, with manufacturing operations set to begin in early November.
Trade Update April #5: Saudi Aramco BYD, India manufacturing, Nissan China, Kenya Ethiopia FTA
Saudi Aramco has partnered with BYD, a leading Chinese manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries. This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of innovative vehicle technologies that enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. The partnership was formalised through a Joint Development Agreement between Saudi Aramco Technologies Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aramco, and BYD. This agreement leverages the extensive research and development capabilities of both companies to achieve breakthroughs in new energy vehicle technologies.
Trade Update April #4: White House, Meloni, India, Skoda
In a significant move towards reshaping international trade, the White House has announced that it is actively pursuing trade agreements with more than 15 countries. This initiative comes in the wake of President Trump's recent tariffs on foreign exports, which have prompted a wave of negotiations aimed at fostering reciprocal trade relationships.