Import and exportwith the real cost in writing.

The total cost of importing from China to Ecuador is the sum of the FOB price (the factory price), international freight, insurance (1.5% of FOB), the COMEX tariff (0% to 30% depending on the tariff line), FODINFA (0.5% of CIF), IVA (Ecuador's VAT) at 15%, the customs broker's fees (USD 150 to 400) and local delivery (USD 50 to 220). In practice, a USD 5,000 FOB order ends up costing between USD 7,100 and USD 8,000 delivered to a warehouse in Quito or Guayaquil, depending on the transport mode and the tariff category. ATLAS, Daleki Trade's digital consultant, builds the referential estimate with the full breakdown in 30 seconds from the product link, and the team confirms it in writing.

Consolidated air freight from China to Ecuador takes 7 to 12 days door to door. LCL sea freight takes 30 to 45 days, the same as a full FCL container. Clearance with SENAE, Ecuador's customs service, adds 3 to 7 business days. Air costs USD 8 to 12 per kilo and makes sense for electronics, product launches or fast-moving products. Sea costs USD 80 to 120 per cubic meter (LCL) or USD 2,800 to 4,500 per 20-foot container (FCL), and it is the best option for high volume, apparel, accessories and machinery.

Every commercial import to Ecuador pays four taxes built on the CIF value (FOB + freight + insurance). The COMEX ad valorem tariff ranges from 0% to 30% depending on the tariff line. FODINFA is a fixed 0.5% contribution earmarked for child development. ICE (Impuesto a Consumos Especiales, Ecuador's special consumption tax) applies only to alcoholic beverages, premium cosmetics, perfumes, vehicles and tobacco, at variable rates. IVA (Ecuador's VAT) at 15% is calculated on the sum of CIF, tariff, FODINFA and ICE. The IVA rate rose from 12% to 15% in April 2024 under the Ley Orgánica de Urgencia Económica. ATLAS runs the full formula before your first payment.

With Daleki Trade's 50/50 model you pay 50% of the agreed total cost when you place the order and the remaining 50% before customs clearance in Ecuador. The first half covers the supplier's FOB and international freight. The second covers SENAE taxes, the customs broker's fees and local delivery. Daleki Trade does not advance its own capital: those two payments fund the operation, and you know the exact amount of each one before you commit. We do not offer financing or credit.

You do not need a company, but to import commercially into Ecuador you must be registered as an importer in ECUAPASS, the SENAE system, and that requires a RUC (Ecuador's taxpayer ID) and an electronic signature. An individual with a RUC can import for personal use or for their own small business; a company does it for its regular commercial operation. Imports under the 4x4 regime (courier packages up to USD 400 and 4 kg) have a simplified process and require no prior registration. Daleki Trade advises you on the initial registration and operates under your RUC. We never import under a RUC other than the end client's.

Ecuador prohibits importing weapons, explosives, narcotic substances, hazardous waste, used vehicles more than five years old, unauthorized fireworks and counterfeit goods. Other categories can be imported with a prior permit: food and cosmetics need ARCSA registration, medicines need a health registration, equipment with radio or wifi needs ARCOTEL type approval, vehicles require a COMEX quota and ANT type approval, agricultural products need an AGROCALIDAD certificate, and textiles must meet the RTE INEN 013 labeling standard. ATLAS checks the restrictions from the product description before estimating costs.

If SENAE assigns you the red channel, an officer physically checks the cargo against the customs declaration and clearance takes one to three extra days. Every import gets a channel during the aforo, the customs assessment: green (free release), yellow (document review) or red (physical inspection). Daleki Trade covers the customs broker's attendance during the inspection and resolves minor differences in the declaration. If the inspection finds a material difference between what was declared and what was shipped, the additional costs (fines, tax adjustments, repacking) are the client's responsibility, because the declaration is based on the supplier's information. That is why ATLAS asks you to verify the description and the tariff line before any payment.

ATLAS classifies each product under its Harmonized System (HS) code by cross-referencing the current Ecuador COMEX tariff database, product identification from an image or description, and SENAE classification rules. When a product sits between subheadings, which is common with composite products such as kitchen sets or electronic equipment with accessories, ATLAS shows the two or three most likely options with their tariffs. The final decision belongs to the client and their customs broker, who signs the Declaración Aduanera de Importación (DAI, the import customs declaration). ATLAS does not replace the customs broker; it supports the broker with the upfront calculation and cross-validation.