“To meet our customers’ needs—whether for minerals, chemicals, or additives—we develop sustainable procurement solutions.
This is one of the first sentences you’ll read when you visit the homepage of our website. But what exactly does the phrase “sustainable procurement solutions” mean? We’d like to explain that to you in this blog post.
Blast furnaces glowing in China, a cargo ship leaving port in Japan, and at the same time, a factory in Germany waiting for its shipment: How do you manage such global supply chains reliably? We rely on the dual approach of a global network and local proximity. This creates a recipe for success that guarantees supply security and sets us apart as a partner in the commodities trade. In this post, we’ll explore what “think globally, act locally” means at COFERMIN, why our international network is so important, and how our local presence and cultural diversity make all the difference.
Global partnerships for supply security
From the far north of Europe to southern Africa, from South America to East Asia. Thanks to our global contacts, partners, and colleagues, we are well-connected. We maintain partnerships with over 30 raw material producers across all continents, giving our customers access to a wide variety of industrial minerals and chemicals. This global network is constantly growing, but we always prioritize building long-term, trusting relationships on an equal footing. It is important to us that we not only present ourselves as approachable and “personal” to our customers; our partners and suppliers also receive the same individual support and attention. This allows us to be accessible to customers as a reliable raw materials partner, speak their language (literally), and overcome political or cultural challenges to guarantee security of supply.
This is because many of our employees have international experience and language skills, so misunderstandings are rare—and in the best-case scenario, don’t arise at all. We realize just how valuable this is every day as we act as mediators between different cultures and business practices.
We also promote multilingualism and intercultural exchange internally. Young talents gain international experience early on through internships with partners or new colleagues who even relocate from their home countries for their professional futures.
Our network is your advantage
A quick look at our partners makes it clear that we have a broad presence there as well, and that our language skills and long-standing intercultural mindset are a distinct advantage. Ferrochrome from South Africa (Samancor Chrome, the world’s largest ferrochrome producer), boric acid from Chile (Quiborax, one of the leading sources of boric acid), petalite from Zimbabwe (Bikita Minerals, the world’s only large-scale petalite producer), or magnesia from Japan (UBE Material Industries) are just a few examples. Of course, we do not want to overlook our regional and local partners in Europe, who can also provide us with a wide variety of raw materials.
Our network extends westward from Portugal to Poland, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic in the east, and northward to Iceland and Norway. Our approach does not follow a strict regional focus but aims to meet the needs of our end customers across many industries and raw material requirements. This broad international presence ensures that we have alternative sources of supply and can react flexibly should bottlenecks, political restrictions, or supply shortages arise in a region. In addition to our customers, we also offer our suppliers a stable distribution network and access to relevant markets. In doing so, we assume various roles as needed—trader, logistics provider, extended arm of the manufacturer, or consultant. We identify suitable raw material sources worldwide, develop and test quality standards, and secure transportation routes and delivery schedules. Even with special specifications or specific requests, we do our best to offer a suitable solution. In such cases, we draw on our global contacts, laboratories, and the experience of our application engineers.
Forward-looking planning thanks to global expertise
Global networking also means maintaining an overview of international developments at all times. Our experience in various countries and markets helps us meet delivery deadlines and quality standards. A large part of our work takes place long before the first ton of raw material is shipped. By planning capacities and selecting routes in the context of regional specifics, we strive to create a less fragile supply chain. This also includes taking into account events such as the Chinese New Year, port closures, or seasonal shipping bans.
A real-world example demonstrates that this foresight is not merely a theoretical advantage or empty rhetoric. When the Suez Canal blockage brought global trade to a standstill in 2021, our team worked hand in hand across departments to develop solutions that would still get our products to customers. By pooling our global experience—through alternative routes, reallocating inventory, or rapid responses from local partners—we were able to avoid subsequent production downtime.
We manage logistical, political, and cultural challenges behind the scenes so you can focus on your core business. Whether you need on-site consulting, are looking for a reliable source of specialty raw materials, or simply want a contact person who speaks your language—we take your raw material supply personally. With COFERMIN by your side, you benefit from “think globally, act locally” in practice.
