Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dry common bean ("fréjol seco") is a seasonal staple legume crop in Ecuador, with production concentrated in Sierra provinces, especially Bolívar, Imbabura, and Carchi. Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAG), citing INEC ESPAC 2023, reports about 19,653 ha harvested and 12,972 t of national dry bean production, with smallholder structures and a high share of family labor. UN Comtrade data via WITS indicate Ecuador imports dried kidney beans (HS 071333) from suppliers including Argentina, Canada, and Peru, while recorded exports of dried beans are very small, implying domestic orientation with supplemental imports. Market access for trade is shaped by Agrocalidad’s phytosanitary import permit and inspection workflow (via ECUAPASS/VUE) and export phytosanitary certification requirements, and quality parameters for pulses can be benchmarked against Codex CXS 171-1989.
Market RoleDomestic producer with supplemental imports (net importer in traded dry beans)
Domestic RoleFood-security relevant staple legume; the dry form (fréjol seco) is highlighted by MAG as the more commercially relevant state versus fresh-in-pod.
Market GrowthMixed (2019–2023 (MAG bulletin citing INEC ESPAC time series))Fluctuating production/yields with notable sensitivity to losses attributed to pests/diseases and climate events (e.g., drought and frost) in MAG’s ESPAC-based characterization.
SeasonalitySeasonal marketing pattern; MAG reports producer price reporting for dry bean concentrated in August–November, consistent with seasonal availability and commercialization.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Should be free from abnormal flavors/odours and living insects (Codex CXS 171-1989 pulse quality factors).
Compositional Metrics- Moisture reference for beans in Codex CXS 171-1989: max 15% for tropical climates/long-term storage, or max 19% for moderate climates/short-term storage (buyer/authority may require lower limits by destination and storage/transport duration).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Sierra production areas (e.g., Bolívar/Imbabura/Carchi) → drying/threshing → cleaning/sorting → bagging → wholesale distribution → retail or foodservice
Temperature- Dry storage and moisture control are central quality levers for traded pulses; meeting moisture and insect-free expectations (Codex CXS 171-1989) depends on post-harvest drying, protected storage, and pest management.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Climate HighEcuador’s dry bean production is concentrated in Sierra provinces and is exposed to seasonal/climatic shocks; MAG’s ESPAC-based characterization reports production losses with drought and frost among the loss drivers, which can sharply tighten supply and move domestic prices in the seasonal marketing window.Diversify sourcing across provinces/suppliers, secure pre-season contracts, and maintain safety stocks for Aug–Nov; for local sourcing, prioritize suppliers with documented agronomic risk controls (seed choice, planting calendar, and risk-reduction practices).
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with Agrocalidad phytosanitary permit/inspection requirements (e.g., missing or incorrect import permits, incomplete inspection documentation, or failure to meet destination phytosanitary requirements for exports) can delay clearance or block shipments.Use a pre-shipment document checklist aligned to Agrocalidad’s ECUAPASS/VUE workflows (PFI/DDA for imports; operator registration, inspection request, and CFE for exports) and validate requirements in advance for the specific destination (export) or product category (import).
Logistics MediumImports supplement domestic supply for traded dry beans in available UN Comtrade extracts; reliance on a small set of origin countries for specific subheadings increases exposure to freight volatility, cross-border disruptions, and shipment delays.Qualify multiple origins and plan lead times by route (overland vs. ocean); use rolling forecasts and buffer inventory during peak domestic seasonality.
Food Safety MediumQuality deterioration risks for dry beans (notably insect presence, off-odours, and moisture out-of-spec) can cause rejection against international pulse expectations; Codex CXS 171-1989 explicitly requires pulses be free from abnormal odours and living insects and provides moisture reference limits for beans.Implement incoming-lot inspection (visual defect screening, insect checks) and moisture testing, and maintain dry, protected storage conditions throughout handling and transport.
Sustainability- Climate-driven yield and area-loss exposure in Sierra production zones (MAG characterization includes drought and frost among reported loss drivers).
- Pest and disease pressure as a stated contributor to production losses (MAG characterization).
- Seed quality/technology adoption: use of common vs. certified vs. improved seed is tracked in MAG’s ESPAC-based characterization, implying performance and resilience differences by seed type.
Labor & Social- High family-labor participation is reported by MAG for Ecuador’s dry bean production (majority share of labor input), which elevates the need for buyer-side age/working-conditions due diligence in smallholder supply contexts.
- The U.S. Department of Labor ILAB list flags child labor risks in some Ecuador agricultural goods (e.g., bananas, rice, livestock raising), but dried common beans are not specifically listed for Ecuador in the referenced filtered results.
FAQ
Which provinces are the main producers of dry common beans in Ecuador?MAG’s 2023 situational bulletin (based on INEC ESPAC 2023) identifies Sierra provinces as the main production zone, highlighting Bolívar, Imbabura, and Carchi as the most relevant, with Loja and Azuay also among the principal producing provinces.
Is Ecuador an importer or exporter of dried common beans?Available UN Comtrade extracts via WITS show Ecuador importing dried kidney beans (HS 071333) in 2023, with suppliers including Argentina, Canada, and Peru, while recorded exports of dried beans (HS 071331) are very small. This supports a domestically oriented market where imports can supplement supply.
What are the key phytosanitary steps for importing or exporting dried beans in Ecuador?Agrocalidad manages plant health controls. For imports, Agrocalidad describes the use of the Permiso Fitosanitario de Importación (PFI) requested through ECUAPASS/VUE and associated inspection/assignment steps (e.g., DDA) when applicable. For exports, Agrocalidad requires operator registration, phytosanitary inspection, and issuance of a Certificado Fitosanitario de Exportación (CFE), with destination-country requirements checked in advance.