Port Reform Targets 12,000 Abandoned Containers in Ecuador

Ecuador is advancing a legal reform to clear more than 12,000 abandoned containers from national ports, targeting a logistics backlog that ties up port capacity and retained cargo valued at about $450 million.

The proposal reforms the Organic Code of Production, Commerce and Investment (COPCI) and reflects a customs proposal from Senae.

Backlog Scale

Indicator	Figure
Abandoned containers identified annually	More than 12,000
Estimated retained cargo value	About $450M
Average wait time	365 days
Longest immobilized cargo cases	More than 18 years
Articles in proposal	7
Transitory provisions	3

The cargo mix includes vehicles, clothing, shoes, home goods, appliances, electronics, technology, medicines, beauty products and refrigerated containers.

Port-Capacity Drag

Port-terminal representatives warned that some strategic terminals have more than 65% of abandoned containers stored for more than five years.

In TPG, Fertisa and Naportec, abandoned cargo categories total 339 containers, with 65% immobilized for more than five years.

Refrigerated-container costs can reach $159,116, while more than $1.2 million in unbilled services is tied to abandoned containers.

Proposed Mechanism

The reform prioritizes delivery of merchandise declared in abandonment, administrative confiscation or judicial confiscation to public-sector bodies and companies.

If no rights are proven within the applicable period, goods may be adjudicated or auctioned. If a criminal process exists, auction proceeds would remain under Senae custody until the case is resolved.

What to watch

• Whether the reform passes beyond debate and changes customs handling timelines.
• Whether auction and adjudication rules reduce storage costs for port operators.
• Whether Guayaquil-linked terminals report lower abandoned-cargo inventories.
• Whether customs backlogs affect active import/export throughput during 2026.