Efectividad de las estrategias de reacción de las empresas importadoras de tejidos de algodón del sector textil ecuatoriano, frente a la afectación generada por las fluctuaciones en el costo de los fletes marítimos del periodo 2020-2023

Abstract

The present article analyzes the effectiveness of the reaction strategies implemented by Ecuadorian textile sector companies that import cotton fabrics in response to fluctuations in maritime freight costs between 2020 and 2023. The study is based on a theoretical framework that addresses the main external and operational factors influencing the variation in maritime freight costs, the impact of these fluctuations on operations and profitability within the textile sector, the reaction strategies implemented, and the cost-benefit technique used to evaluate their effectiveness. Through a mixed-method analysis that combines documentary research with surveys of foreign trade professionals experienced in the textile sector, the study identified the external factors that caused variations in logistics costs, the strategies proposed and implemented by the companies, and evaluated the effectiveness of these responses in mitigating the impact generated. The results show that logistics planning is the key to implementing strategies such as negotiating rates with transport providers, contracting long-term freight agreements with fixed rates, and diversifying suppliers in different regions. These measures strengthen the ability of textile companies to mitigate risks and maintain competitiveness with adequate margins in a world that increasingly promotes international trade, driven by maritime transport, which is constantly subject to changes that generate uncertainty.