Describes how widely e-Commerce is used, the primary sectors that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each sector is sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and, reputable, prominent B2B websites.

The Latin American Institute of Electronic Commerce (http://www.einstituto.org/site/) helped expedite the expansion of the Ecuadorian e-commerce market through organizing the yearly E-Commerce Day. This event creates a space for the dissemination, promotion, and reflection on the importance and potential of e-commerce in Ecuador. Despite these efforts, few domestic companies have a robust e-commerce presence.

Although the majority of e-commerce is conducted by foreign businesses, in 2014, the government’s Committee on Foreign Trade (COMEX) (http://www.comercioexterior.gob.ec/comex/) passed Resolution 23 in order to create e-commerce market opportunities for Ecuador’s domestic businesses.

Electronic Commerce Trends in Latin America

In 2014, $37 billion in e-commerce trade was conducted in Latin America, an 18% increase from 2013. This accounted for 0.8% of the region’s overall GDP (total GDP of Latin America in 2014 was $4.494 billion). E-commerce makes up an estimated 2 percent share of total merchandise retail and the average online spending per shopper is $428.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.