The four routes
| Route | Wins on | Costs you |
|---|---|---|
| Direct export (FOB/CIF) | Simplicity | EU margin and the customer relationship |
| Distributor | Speed to shelf | Margin, data, brand control |
| Marketplace | D2C reach | Fees, compliance still yours |
| Own EU entity | Margin, control, compliance ownership | Running a company |
The switch points
Distributor margins on structural volume outgrow entity costs early — the same arithmetic as the Turkish distribution case. Marketplace sellers hit the compliance wall (GPSR, EPR, responsible-person roles) where an own entity carries the names once. Component suppliers switch when buyers demand the EU counterparty.
The hybrid norm
Mature setups run three routes at once from one BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company): key accounts direct, distributors for the long tail, marketplaces for D2C — one stock position, one VAT machine on Article 23, one compliance file.
Per country
The country routes — Vietnam through Taiwan — stand in this cluster; the holding above them in holding with a foreign parent.