Japan is one of Wisconsin's largest consumers for exports. But there's concern as to how much the recent devastation could affect Wisconsin businesses.
Johnsonville Sausage is just one of the companies doing business in Japan. Michael Suprick heads their international business department. He says delivery is already being disrupted.
"All of our volume is still moving through the U.S. according to our retailers' wishes, but right now they're having a hard time delivering to each of the stores within the country," explains Suprick. "I think what we're going to do is see a slowdown of our volume...but we haven't ceased any production here in the U.S. as of yet."
Suprick says Johnsonville has been exporting to Japan for ten years, with each year's sales better than the last one. They even have an office and partner with a distribution center there.
Last year, Wisconsin's exports of processed meats and fish to Japan jumped 66-percent.
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Ben Brancel is the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in Wisconsin. He says next quarter's figures on exports may not be reliable.
"There may be some short term disruptions just because of the systems that are under stress," says Brancel. "Whether it's transportation or the marketplace itself, or energy systems, especially products that may need electricity or energy that may need maintenance or quality."
Brancel says a recent trade mission to Japan resulted in new Wisconsin companies marketing products there. He says he doesn't expect those relationships to suffer, despite the recent disasters.
