Ecuador: Flower exports fall to worst level in 4 years

In 2016, Ecuador’s income from flower exports reached $ 802 million, the lowest amount the sector has reported in the last 4 years. In 2013, the turnover amounted to $ 830 million; in 2014, to $ 918 million and in 2015 to $ 820 million.

The reality of the sector was outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture within the framework of the dialogue tables that have been organised in the country to analyse the problems affecting this industry.

It was explained that the downturn recorded is not only partly due to an international fall in prices, but also to the competitiveness that the sector has been losing due to high domestic production costs and the lack of trade agreements with countries such as the United States, Canada and Russia, which could facilitate the entry of the Ecuadorian production into these commercial niches.

This is the reason why the Federation of Flower Exporters (Expoflores) has focused on the need to sign more trade agreements. Last year, 44% of exports went to the US, 21% to Europe, 17% to Russia, 13% to Canada and the rest to other countries.
They also believe that the sector urgently needs improvements in terms of connectivity and competitiveness with the revision of the regulatory framework of air operators and the reactivation of mechanisms to promote commercial sales abroad, such as Drawback.

Alejandro Martínez, president of Expoflores, was hopeful of the results that these dialogues could yield in favour of the sector, which consists of 629 floricultural farms across the country. Together they generate 105,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Source: Expreso