Ceramic Imports with a downward trend

Image: Expreso

In two years 63 ceramic importeing companies have closed, according to the Association of Importers of Ceramic Tiles. This is the effect of the measures that have been taken since 2013, as quality standards, quotas and surcharges, according to the guild.

Dalila Gomez, the president of the union, told Daily Expreso that the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen when the import quota agreement ends and the possibility that the exchange rate is applied instead of surcharges creates uncertainty that prevents them to make their business projections for the next year.

Added to this, the domestic producers are buying abroad more than the ceramic guild (only dedicated to this). According to the association, four manufacturers in the country have increased their imports between 14% and 277%. “While those that only import have lower sales and orders,” said the representative of the sector. He added that manufacturers are also importers, and do not have to comply with all the rules of employers, that are just importers. An example_ they do not have a quota, “ie they have no restrictions like us.”

Translated into English by Pierina Abad
Source: http://expreso.ec/expreso/plantillas/nota.aspx?idart=8726197&idcat=38269&tipo=2