Agricultural Exports From Ecuador

You’ve always wanted to live on a large property of land, but prices in the United States and Canada aren’t affordable. You’ve always imagined having having your own agricultural business. You’ve wanted to have a healthier life, but it’s difficult where you currently live.  Ecuador is where you can experience this new reality.

The country presents various opportunities to create your own farm and to sell what you produce, both internationally or domestically. Ecuador has friendly export laws and the inexpensive land prices, the perfect combination for creating your own farm-to-table dream.

Choosing the Best Property for a Farm in Ecuador

The opportunities for farming are abundant in Ecuador. We’ve researched how to start a cacao farm, a cattle ranch, and a shrimp farm. We’ve analyzed the prices of various agricultural investments as well. The most important thing to remember is that you have to find the right property. The property should have a natural water source, whether that’s from a well or a stream. Many plots of land in Ecuador aren’t developed with paved roads, but those can easily be built when the land in purchased. Check to see if the land shares public electricity or if it is at least close to an electricity source. Climate is also vital because, with the right climate, you can actually grow crops year round. The coast in the Manabí region is ideal for growing crops--the days are sunny, there is ample rain, and the vegetation provides shade for plants that cannot thrive in direct sunlight.

How to Export Crops from Ecuador

Once you have your farm up and running, perhaps you want to consider shipping the delicious crop back to the U.S. or to other countries. Production can be plentiful in this country. As there are optimal growing seasons year-round, your output can be impressive.The process of exporting products from Ecuador is straightforward; there are three steps. First, you must register your RUC, the account number of your Ecuadorian bank, with SRI (Servicio de Rentas Internas). From there, you’ll receive a certificate with a digital signature or TOKEN from either Banco Central or Security Data. After receiving the certificate, you register your business and information in ECUAPASS, an online database that helps you manage your exporting business.

Ecuador is ranked 69th in the world in terms of exports, even though it is a country of only 12 million people. The major exports are crude petroleum oil, bananas, shrimp, processed fish, cocoa beans and cut flowers (especially roses). The last five years have shown a growth in the percentage of annual exports. The majority of exports from Ecuador, over 35%, go to the United States.

As there are many expats who have relocated to Ecuador, there are plenty of services to help business owners get started. Organizations that assist with translations, consulting, accounting, and secretarial work, all for a minimal price compared to those in the United States, can help get any small business up and running.

Annual Seasons and Inexpensive Labor

Along with exporting to foreign countries, many farms sell internally to the expat and local populations. There are farms with 20-30 products that can sell to customers at any time of the year. Because there can be year-round produce, it’s important to note that manual labor prices are fair and inexpensive here compared to other countries. It’s easy to hire a team of skilled farm workers for a fair price that will support their families and increase crop production. 

Selling Within Ecuador

What you produce depends on where you’re located: citrus on the coast, starches and leafy greens in the Sierra, but many crops can grow in both climates. Consider growing speciality items like kale and mushrooms; they sell for a high price in Ecuador. Selling in Ecuador can be at a local level, going to markets and fairs and buying a table, or if your production is high enough, you can sign contracts with larger grocery chains like SuperMaxi or Coral to get your products featured in the grocery stores around Ecuador.

Check out some of these properties that would be great for starting up a small or large-scale farm in Ecuador: