Ecuador, a traditionally agro-industrial country, is a key exporter of shrimp, bananas, cacao, and cut flowers. Imports dominate most of the machinery and supplies needed for the processing and packaging industry. Market growth is largely tied to investment in technology and companies’ expansion strategies. Manufacturing represented 12.4 percent of GDP in 2024.
Ecuador has pursued policies to shift from being largely dependent on oil and agricultural exports to increase its exports of high value-added products. The Ecuadorian government promotes the development of local industry, including non-oil export sectors. For that reason, the market for processed goods is considerable, requiring machinery, supplies, and technology from abroad. Companies in this industry are aware of the need to remain competitive with up-to-date technology, as well as highly efficient production processes.
The United States is one of the largest suppliers of processing and packaging equipment to Ecuador, with 18 percent of imports in 2024. China is also a leading supplier in this category with 24 percent of imports. Other countries that sell to Ecuador include Brazil and Germany.
The Ecuadorian government has taken general actions to facilitate imports. The current rate of the capital exit tax (ISD) is 5 percent. Tariffs for processing and packaging equipment range from 0 to 5 percent. With few exceptions (like labeling and filling machines), there is a 15 percent value-added tax (IVA) and 0.5 percent tax for child development (FODINFA) applied to the declared shipping amount on most equipment.
Table 1: Ecuador’s Imports of Processing and Packaging Equipment
HTS codes: 8423, 8434, 8435, 8437, 8438, 8439, 8443. | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 estimated |
Total Exports | $11.3 | $6.5 | $6.1 | $6.1 |
Total Imports | $233 | $224 | $211 | $221 |
Imports from the United States | $38.6 | $42.9 | $37.1 | $38.1 |
Trade Surplus/Deficit | -$221.8 | -$217.6 | $-205.5 | $-214.9 |
Exchange Rates | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Units: US$ millions
Source: Central Bank of Ecuador
Leading Sub-sectors
- Packaging or wrapping machinery
- Filling, sealing, and capping machines
- Cleaning and sorting machinery
- Dairy production equipment
- Bottling services (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
- Brewery equipment
- Mixing, grading, and filtering apparatuses
- Equipment to process and pack processed foods
- Printing and labeling equipment
- Automation or remote solutions
- Sustainable packaging
Opportunities
The food processing industry is not sufficiently developed to satisfy local demand, let alone increase exports. The sector is highly diversified. Besides importing processing and packaging machinery, Ecuador also imports the raw materials needed for packaging such as cardboard boxes, plastic wrap, plastic bags, and labels.
The primary end-users for packaging machinery are:
- Food and agricultural industries, including supermarkets
- Meat packers
- Fruit/vegetable processors and exporters
- Banana, shrimp, and flower exporters
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Packaging processors
Market opportunities for U.S. manufacturers also vary broadly, determined by equipment size and production capacity.
Resources
U.S. Embassy Commercial Specialist – Sandra Tinajero, TinajeroSV@State.gov