The research project entitled "Characterization of total logistics in the SMEs in Tuluá - Buga as a fundamental tool for the development of international trade" was developed based on the need to raise awareness among students of the International Trade Program from the Faculty of Administrative, Economic and Accounting Sciences (FACAEC by its name in Spanish), about the need to obtain competences in the field of research as a fundamental element for the integral training of professionals; Since logistics is one of the key areas of the program offered by the Central Unit of Valle del Cauca (UCEVA), which is proposed as a specialty option within the academic pensum, and deserves the guidance of research efforts towards it. Likewise, this work is framed by the evident need to carry out productive and commercial activities in a competitive and harmonious way in the business sector of the cities of Tuluá-Buga and the neighboring municipalities, in order to facilitate all the processes for the elaboration of products, the services offer and the national and international commercial development. The type of research methodology employed is the applied research methodology and with descriptive study. Besides, complying with the need to know the logistics process carried out by local companies with exporting and importing vision, the posed objective was worked out, to generate a diagnosis of logistics, emphasizing on its whole conception, as a fundamental tool for the development of the international trade of the companies of Tuluá - Buga and the neighboring municipalities