Carinsa: "More than the US tariffs, we're concerned about the impact on logistics."

BarcelonaFor Carinsa, the Catalan company dedicated to creating, producing, distributing, and marketing flavorings for human food and beverages, animal feed, and fragrances for detergents and cosmetics, the problem isn't the tariffs imposed by the US, which is currently set at 10% instead of 20%. Furthermore, for this company, sales in the world's leading power don't even reach 5% of its total. But they are concerned about the effects this trade war may have in the medium rather than the short term.

"Indirectly, the most obvious impact for us is on logistics. Possible changes in commercial maritime routes and higher transportation costs. There is less availability of containers, more congestion at ports, and traffic times are less predictable."

US President Donald Trump's tariff sanctions on China will affect not only companies that export to the US but also those that export to other countries. Why? Because the Asian giant will modify maritime routes to place products that previously went to the US in other countries, explains Ventura. All of this could lead to increased transportation costs and potential complications in global supply chains, an effect similar to that experienced months after the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, and traffic jams in certain ports due to the expected flood of goods. In fact, the trade battle initiated by Trump against China, the world's second-largest power, represents a sudden change in the rules of the game for global trade.

In any case, the businesses of the Sant Quirze del Vallès-based company, run by sisters Vanesa and Dénia Martínez, as CEO and vice president, respectively, appear likely to suffer, but they are prepared for the new situation. "Certainly, our businesses in the US will be impacted by a reduction in margins to maintain current agreements, and we will have to find solutions in collaboration with our partners." partners and customers who guarantee supply without losing competitiveness." Ventura explains that, with value-added products like those produced by Carinsa, a 10% tariff can be shared with US customers.

One of Ventura's tasks has been to achieve geographically diversified turnover. This is a way to protect against sudden or punctual changes like the one experienced by the administration of the leading US power. It is, in fact, following the old advice of not putting all your eggs in one basket.

Deeply family-run, the company is managed by the two daughters of Alberto Martínez, a chemical engineer who founded it in 1993 and led it with his wife until 2005, when he died suddenly. Vanesa and Dénia, who had no previous experience in the business, then had to take over overnight. Their mother, Isabel Chamorro, is currently the group's main shareholder. Of the company's 12 shareholders, nine are from the same family.