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Industry and Trade
Prices (retail and wholesale)
The commercialization system is quite traditional and
although there are big companies, approximately 75%
is controlled by specialized retailers that get their sup-
plies from importers and wholesale distributors. The
margin of a wholesaler can range between 10% and
15% of the final product.
In the distribution chain of fast moving consumer goods
and food, supplies and small businesses still have the
leading role. There are, in some cases, significant price
differences between the supply of traditional retailers
(with lower prices) and department stores. As for indus-
trial products, the situation is just the opposite.
By volume and turnover, large stores and supermarkets
may offer better prices and discounts. The distribution
chain can be composed by a producer or an importer
/ wholesaler - distributor-large stores - small stores and
supplies with a cumulative margin between 30% and
40%.
In terms of commercialization of consumer goods,
although most is done through small businesses, it
should be noted the existence of two major supermar-
ket chains in the country. Supermaxi, which belongs to
La Favorita, is the group that has more outlets, mainly
located in cities but with more presence in the mountain
region than on the coast. The second largest group is
“Mi Comisariato”, belongs to Importadora El Rosado.
Likewise, it also has presence throughout the country;
however, it is more popular on the coast than in the
mountain region.
Opportunities
The sectors with the largest potential are public infra-
structure which includes roads, bridges or tunnels,
the modernization of the airport network, railways and
Quito subway. It also includes hydropower, wind power
generation and oil exploration from drilling equipment
to electricity generation. Hybrid cars, hardware, last
generation telephony, cosmetics and raw materials for
the plastic industry, petrochemicals and automotive are
also among sectors with a lot of future and high poten-
tial. There is also a need to import medical equipment.
Sectors with potential demand for imports
Among these sectors are machinery for the woodwork-
ing industry, machinery for the textile clothing industry
and leather, machinery for agriculture and for the trans-
formation of raw materials into power. Another sector
that has a lot of growth potential is the food processing
industry. Other areas with high demand for imports are
the ceramics, household products, both in furniture and
decorative and design accessories. Electronics, both
consumer and specialized, has potential for growth,
mainly because hardly any of these products are
manufactured locally. As regards the chemical industry,
chemical production is very low, since most of these
products must be imported.
In the public sector, the areas of civil engineering, elec-
tricity and oil should be emphasized.
There are possibilities in the construction sector, espe-
cially to use the savings of Ecuadorian immigrants in
financing their future homes.
Finally, within the private sector in which Spanish com-
panies do better there is the fishing and provision of
equipment for ships and factories for processing and
canning of fish. Other sectors with potential include
agro-industry, floriculture and tourism.
Supermarkets
There are nine large commercial chains in the country,
mainly located in Quito and Guayaquil. In 2009, this
sector had an important technological development
and considerable investment, both in volume and in
sales points.
Top 5 companies according to Ekos Magazine:
1. Corporación Favorita CA
2. Tiendas Industriales Asociadas SATia
3. Corporación El Rosado S.A.
4. Mega Santamaria S.A.
5. Disor Distribuidores del Oriente Cia Ltda
Management services
The sector that has registered the major increase in
sales was the one linked to real estate and manage-
ment services. These activities presented a total growth
by 2,2% compared to 2008.
The most significant contribution to this growth was pro-
vided by companies within the segment of IT services
that increased their revenues by 118%. Activities related
to rental of machinery and equipment add another 4,5%
increase to this group. Special attention should be also
dedicated to architectural and engineering services that
registered 2% growth each.
Top 5 companies:
1. DK Management Services Sociedad Anonima
2. Tecnica General de Construcciones SA
3. Leadcom del Ecuador SA
4. Moneyfast SA
5. Agropartner SA