Eight exporting companies already appear with success stories so far in 2022

2021 was a key year for several exporting companies as they achieved, for the first timeplace their products in international markets. On this path of dynamism, 2022 also starts.

The feat of companies entering a country for the first time is considered by ProEcuador a “success story.” In fact, the Vice Ministry of Export and Investment Promotion records that, so far this year, there are eight companies that have specified six “success stories” by making shipments to United Kingdom, Chile and Belgium.

in 2021 There were 37 exporting companies that managed to achieve 41 success stories. Within this large group that conquered international markets were those dedicated to making hats, cocoa products, fishery products, processed foods, flowers, exotic fruits, pharmaceutical items and even agencies dedicated to tourism.

These firms achieved exports to Belgium, Paraguay, South Korea, Norway, the United States, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Spain, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Peru, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Slovakia, Austria and the Netherlands.

The Social Deal company, for example, managed to enter the French territory with the yellow pitahaya. In September 2021, it made its first export of 170 boxes of the fruit to that country.

Luis Ponce, general manager of Social Deal, He explained that arriving in France, like entering other European countries, was derived from a job carried out by the company’s commercial office. The exporter has an area that is responsible for gathering information to find potential clients around the world, in addition to strengthening relationships with those who already have a commercial link.

“There is quite a lot of potential for exotic fruits, studies are constantly being carried out to see what the market trends are and where the mood of consumers is going. Ecuador has a privileged position due to the quality and flavor of the fruit that is offered”, emphasizes Ponce.

It is entrepreneurial effort has allowed the exportable supply of Social Deal, which includes, among other products, baby bananas, red and yellow pitahaya, sweet cucumber, ginger, blueberries and passion fruit, reach America, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Singapore. In the short term, it is planned to start with shipments to England, Turkey, among other destinations, Ponce assured.

In March 2021, the yellow pitahaya also arrived for the first time in Netherlands.

Seven ‘revelation’ destinations grew to more than 1,000% for Ecuadorian exports

Minka Chocolate It was also part of the “success stories” industries that strengthened new commercial ties in 2021. Jorge Martínez, general manager of the firm, explained that in November 2,000 bars of assorted chocolate were placed on Chilean soil, ranging from tablets with high concentration of cocoa to those with additions of coffee, quinoa and uvilla. Now, in mid-February, a new shipment to Chile is expected to be made.

“We went to fairs and an event organized by ProEcuador that was effective in generating interest in the product in the Chilean market. The product was tasted and then the purchase process was generated by the client in that country”, explained Martínez, who added that Chile joins five other countries to which the brand reaches with its cocoa products.

Norway, for example, was another country where Minka arrived for the first time in 2021 with chocolates, cocoa powder and nibs.

The performance of Ecuadorian exports

The entry of products to new markets by Ecuadorian companies it pushed, in part, the performance registered by the country’s non-oil exports until November of last year.

Xavier Rosero, executive vice president of the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), said that diversification into new export companies is “the natural result of seeking a larger scale of production, particularly in non-traditional non-oil supply products for niche markets. where a greater value can be positioned due to its high willingness to pay”.

The miske, distilled from the penco, among the products that seek denomination of origin in Ecuador

According to data from the union, between January and November, $15,867 million in products from the non-oil basket were exported. The figure is 16% higher compared to the same period in 2020 and 28% higher than what was achieved in 2019.

Fruits were part of the group of products that grew at one and two digits until November. Only fruits exceeded 10% in 2020 and processed cocoa, 3% compared to the previous year. Other products such as shrimp, coffee and processed products, fishmeal and mining products also increased shipments.

Rosero stressed that this performance is due to The Ecuadorian export sector has invested in innovation and new production processes that have allowed it to take advantage of spaces left by other competitors as a result of the disruption caused by the pandemic.

However, there are also sectors that have not managed to recover from their falls. Banana exports, for example, continue to decline by 7% if what is shipped in 2020 is taken into account; as well as lumber shipments, at 35% less.

Projections for 2022

The Vice Ministry of Investment and Export Promotion indicated that for this year the export of services will be incorporated, among them, software, business services, professional services and information technology. “The strategy for this year is based on generating more positioning campaigns in countries with which Ecuador has trade agreements, as well as conducting market intelligence for the new agreements planned for this year with China, Mexico and the United States,” the entity stressed. .

ProEcuador pointed out that it works permanently promoting the exportable offer of the country and in the search for new markets, through the Trade Offices Abroad (OCE), which are located in different countries around the world. Also, providing guidance, training and technical assistance to small and medium-sized companies, entrepreneurs and potential exporters. (I)