More and more high-tech companies are restructuring their supply chains by moving their manufacturing facilities closer to demand, according to a study from UPS.

Conducted in association with IDC Manufacturing Insights, the study polled 516 senior high-tech supply chain professionals, finding that 35 per cent of European decision-makers are planning on nearshoring.

This is up nine percentage points from 2013, with 54 per cent of respondents in Europe moving manufacturing closer to demand two or more years ago, and an additional 34 per cent doing so this year.

Moreover, it was shown that 56 per cent of European company respondents see this as part of their strategy, even though offshoring remains the most common strategy.

Scott Aubuchon, vice president for marketing at UPS Europe, said: "There is a clear trend to move manufacturing and assembly closer to demand."

The report also showed that 39 per cent of European respondents say they expect high-tech industry export growth to increase at the current pace over the next two years, while 19 per cent expect growth to accelerate.