Regulation · 6 min read
When SENAE Moves, Your Cost Model Has to Move Too
A SENAE resolution is a change in your assumptions, and it belongs in the model, not in a folder of PDFs. If the spreadsheet stays still, you quote with a number that no longer exists.
Export · 6 min read
Exporting Flowers from Ecuador in 2026: Markets, Seasons and Air Logistics
Ecuador is the world's third-largest flower exporter and its roses fly to more than 100 countries. Here is how the market splits in 2026, and why season planning is everything in this business.
Sourcing & Compliance · 7 min read
Sourcing Shrimp from Ecuador in 2026: Markets, the China Sanitary Protocol, and Supplier Risk
Ecuador ships more shrimp than any other country in the world, but 2026 exposed how fragile that supply can be: China suspended several processing plants over sanitary non-compliance. Here is what a buyer should verify before signing a contract.
Export · 7 min read
Drawback in Ecuador: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Recover Duties
If you import inputs to make something you export, you are probably leaving money on the table. Here is how drawback works in Ecuador, with the legal basis and the real deadlines.
Sourcing & Compliance · 6 min read
Buying Bananas from Ecuador in 2026: Supply, Certification and Cold Chain Risk
Ecuador ships more bananas than any other country in the world. In 2026 the buyer map moved toward Europe and Russia while reefer capacity got tighter, two facts that change what a serious buyer should ask a supplier before signing.
Sourcing & Compliance · 7 min read
Sourcing Cacao from Ecuador in 2026: EU Tariff, EUDR Rules and Costs
Ecuador remains the world reference for fine flavor cacao, but sourcing it well in 2026 depends on more than bean quality. It depends on whether your supplier's farm clears the new EU traceability bar.
Logistics · 8 min read
Air or Ocean Freight from China to Ecuador: When Each One Makes Sense
Saving USD 1,500 on ocean freight does you no good if you miss a season. Here are the rules for choosing the right mode every time.
Regulation · 3 min read
ICE on Imports into Ecuador: What to Check Before Calculating
A commercial category is not enough to calculate ICE. Gather the product specifications and confirm the applicable rule before finalizing your cost.
Regulation · 7 min read
15% VAT on Imports into Ecuador: How It Affects Your Landed Cost
The VAT increase to 15% moves your landed cost by 2 to 4 points. Here are the numbers and how to adjust your strategy.
Regulation · 6 min read
FODINFA: What It Is, Who Pays It and Why It Shows Up on Your Import Invoice
It is the smallest tax on the list and the least understood. Here is FODINFA explained in 5 minutes, with examples.
Practical guide · 12 min read
How to Import from China to Ecuador in 2026: A Complete Step by Step Guide
From the first email to the supplier to delivery in Quito or Guayaquil, this is how an import from China actually runs in 2026, with numbers, lead times and documents.
Fundamentals · 9 min read
How Ecuador's SENAE Tariff Classification Works, and Why Your HS Code Matters to Your Buyer
A wrong tariff line on your commercial invoice does not just slow down customs, it can cost your Ecuadorian buyer thousands in penalties. Here is how the classification system actually works.
Fundamentals · 9 min read
Landed Cost in Ecuador: What It Is, How It's Calculated, and Why It Changes Your Numbers
The supplier invoice is only half the story. This is the full cost breakdown that determines what a shipment actually costs once it clears customs in Ecuador, useful for suppliers and buyers on both sides of the deal.
Regulation · 8 min read
Prohibited and Restricted Products for Import into Ecuador in 2026
Importing the wrong product into Ecuador ends in seizure and a fine. Here is the updated list and the permits you need to know about before you ask for a quote.
Regulation · 3 min read
Tariff Safeguards in Ecuador: How to Check Whether They Apply
A historical list does not establish a current surcharge. Review the rule, tariff subheading and origin of your goods before quoting.
Logistics · 8 min read
Colon Free Zone: How to Import from Panama to Ecuador and How Much You Save
Panama is more than a canal. It is the largest re-export hub in the Americas, and the Colon Free Zone can be a smart way into the Ecuadorian market.
Procedures · 7 min read
Documents to Import into Ecuador: The Complete 2026 Checklist
A single wrong document can hold your goods in port for 5 days. Here is the complete checklist so nothing gets left out.