Viabilidad de la implementación de un centro distribuidor de cacao ecuatoriano ubicado en Bélgica para el mercado europeo.

Abstract

Ecuadorian cocoa is a very important export product for the country's economy, its high quality makes it highly sought after in international markets. Under this approach, the present study was carried out with the objective of analyzing the feasibility of implementing an Ecuadorian cocoa distribution center located in Belgium for the European market. The applied methodology maintained a mixed approach, deductive method, non-experimental, cross-sectional design and descriptive scope; As a data collection technique, an interview with five producers and a documentary review were used. The results showed that Belgium constitutes a potential market for Ecuadorian cocoa, therefore, the integration of a distribution center would not only benefit the European market, but also national producers, representing a viable project that will promote the positioning of Ecuadorian cocoa. The EU is the third destination for the country's cocoa exports, mainly going to the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The investigation considers Guayaquil as the port of origin and Antwerp as the port of destination. The operation of the distribution center implies the cost of ocean freight and cargo insurance, which is estimated at $2,742.67, while the cost of handling loading, unloading and storage was $1,943.38. In conclusion, through the distribution center it is sought to obtain multiple advantages that benefit both the Ecuadorian producer and the buyers of the European market.