Of course, there are also potential pitfalls in exporting and it is important for prospective exporters to know what these are. They include the following:

• Management may need to devote a considerable amount of time to the start-up procedures and decisions involved in exporting
• Key personnel or other critical resources may have to be diverted from domestic responsibilities to help with the company’s export activities
• Additional plant facilities may be needed to cope with increased sales through exports
• Catalogues, brochures and other sales promotion material, as well as packaging and labelling, may need to be translated into a foreign language
• The product may need to be modified to meet foreign market criteria
• Credit terms may need to be extended because of competition, local custom or transit timeExporting, although rewarding, is generally an expensive activity and will require additional financial resources