July 2026
100 articles
Diesel Benchmark Reaches USD 4.19 Before Ecuador's August Reset
International diesel and gasoline benchmarks rebounded ahead of Ecuador's August 12 fuel-price adjustment. The movement narrows room for the government to repeat July's USD 0.05-per-gallon reduction.
Ecuador Customs Reform Adds 25-Day Abandonment Trigger
Ecuador's customs reform establishes new definitive-abandonment scenarios and changes how Senae disposes of goods. A detained tourist vehicle may be declared abandoned after one month without a recovery or regularization procedure.
Ecuador Confirms Second Foc R4T Outbreak In El Oro
Ecuador confirmed a second Foc R4T banana outbreak on July 14 within the same El Oro containment area as the first case. Industry controls now combine farm biosecurity, public-agency coordination, climate monitoring, and resistant-variety research.
Ecuador Retains 10% U.S. Tariff Under Section 301 Regime
The United States applied a 10% Section 301 surcharge to Ecuador and 16 other jurisdictions. Ecuador's production minister says the rate preserves the country's existing tariff burden while supply-chain traceability controls are implemented.
Capital Shopping Passes 20% Completion On USD 100M Build
Capital Shopping has exceeded 20% construction in Portoviejo. The Consorcio Portoshops project combines more than USD 100 million in private investment with a municipal access-road build inside the Villanueva business district.
World Bank Approves USD 750M Budget Support Operation For Ecuador
The World Bank Group approved USD 750 million in budget support for Ecuador, backing reforms around public spending, fiscal risk, social transfers, business climate, financing for companies, and private-sector participation.
Celec Regains Path To Terminate Failed Esmeraldas III Contract
Celec can again move toward unilateral termination of the ATM contract for Esmeraldas III after emergency arbitration measures were left without effect. The failed 91 MW project had a USD 89.9 million contract and fines near USD 23 million.
Ecuador And Argentina Finalize Auto Tariff Agreement
The agreement lowers Argentina’s vehicle tariff from 28% to 10% and Ecuador’s from 15% to 10% inside a preferential quota of 3,000 units per country for 10 years, with separate origin-content rules above the quota.
Colombian Freight Resistance Slows Ecuador Truck Access
Colombia revoked its restriction after a CAN ruling in favor of Ecuador, but heavy cargo still is not moving freely because Colombian transport groups oppose the change and have warned of immobilizations.
CAF-Backed Consultancy To Draft 20-Year Guayas Basin Plan
The consultancy budget is USD 562,500, with CAF financing 80% through nonreimbursable technical cooperation. The final product is expected to include a 20-year master plan and at least 10 financeable projects.
SCE Authorizes Santa Priscila Acquisition Of Ecuaprotein Assets
Ecuador's Superintendency of Competition cleared Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila to acquire Ecuaprotein assets used for shrimp and fish hydrolysates. The transaction strengthens vertical positioning for one of Ecuador's largest companies, though the authority did not disclose the purchase price.
Canada-Ecuador FTA Reframes Mining Pipeline As Catastro Remains Closed
Ecuador's July 24 free-trade agreement with Canada improves the investment-policy signal for mining, but the sector still faces a closed mining cadastre and unresolved fiscal concerns. Canadian-linked projects include Fruta del Norte, El Domo, La Plata, Warintza, Loma Larga, and Ruta del Cobre exposure.
ITT Output Falls 20% As Petroecuador Maintains Five-Year Closure Path
Bloque 43-ITT production averaged 42,105 barrels per day in January-June 2026, down 20% from the same period in 2023 and 4.5% from 2025. The Yasuní field remains the fourth-largest producer in Ecuador as Petroecuador pursues a five-year closure process contested by Yasunidos.
Large Cooperative Delinquency Holds At 8.3% As Microcredit Stress Persists
Ecuador's 44 large savings and credit cooperatives held 78% of cooperative-sector credit through May 2026, while delinquency stood at 8.3% in June. Microcredit remains the weakest segment at 10.81%, reflecting stress among entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Violence Costs Ecuador USD 12.2B Annually As Illicit Flows Enter Formal Economy
A 2026 IAEN study estimates Ecuador's annual violence cost at more than USD 12.2 billion, or USD 1,127 per person. The analysis links organized crime to household, corporate, fiscal, tourism, export-security, and money-laundering pressures.
Ecuador Pushes Emergency Arbitration In Agenda 2040 Investor-Security Package
Ecuador’s Agenda Crecimiento 2040 proposes emergency arbitration as part of a legal-security package for investors. The measure targets urgent interim relief in state-private disputes while Ecuador works through a broader reset of investment protection after a March 2026 Constitutional Court interpretation.
Ecuador Digital Payments Scale As Cash Withdrawals Drop 22% In 2025
Ecuador’s private-bank cash withdrawals from savings accounts fell 22% in 2025, while POS and electronic payment channels grew 35% over two years. Digital channels now account for 67.7% of transaction count and 67% of amount moved, signaling a structural shift in retail payments and banking usage.
Colombia Supply Risk Complicates Ecuador’s 450 MW Import Buffer For 2026 Dry Season
Ecuador’s interconnection with Colombia can supply up to 450 MW, about 10% of Ecuador’s 4,200-4,500 MW average demand. But Colombian capacity delays and 6.67% demand growth are creating uncertainty ahead of Ecuador’s October dry season.
Ecuador Targets August 20 Completion For Economy, Production And Agriculture Ministry Fusion
Ecuador expects to complete the fusion of Economy, Production, and Agriculture ministries by August 20. The process under Decree 425 reduces the cabinet from 14 ministries to 10 and transfers programs, contracts, budgets, assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations to the new ministry.
Ecuador Holds 10% U.S. Tariff Position As Colombia And Peru Face 12.5%
Ecuador has a relative U.S. tariff advantage after Colombia, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were placed in a 12.5% band. Fedexpor says 46% of Ecuador non-oil exports still face a 10% surcharge, but more than 54% remain exempt.
El Nino Reprices Ecuador Commodity Risk Across Cacao, Coffee, Bananas And Rice
El Nino is moving from weather risk into commodity pricing. Ecuador-exposed products show pressure across cacao, coffee, bananas and rice, with potential consumer-price pass-through over 12 to 20 months.
Ecuador Rice Export Restart Targets More Than 50,000 Tons After Colombia Permits Resume
Ecuador-Colombia rice trade is restarting by land after the first import permits were issued. The government cites an initial 30,000-ton negotiation, while Corpcom projects more than 50,000 tons could move before year-end.
Ecuador Oil-Export Income Reaches USD 1.561 Billion By July 23
Oil-export revenue has nearly matched 2025’s full-year result as WTI and Ecuador’s realized barrel price rise above budget assumptions.
Ecuador And Canada Sign 26-Chapter Free-Trade Agreement In Ottawa
The agreement signed July 24 covers goods access, rules of origin, customs, digital trade and investment provisions.
Ecuador Cites Initial Colombia Power-Trade Tariff Agreement
Ecuador says Colombia could resume electricity sales in coming days under an initial reciprocal-price understanding.
Zamora Chinchipe Tax Revenue Reaches USD 758M, Overtaking Azuay
Zamora Chinchipe collected USD 758 million in taxes in the first half of 2026, a 76% increase year on year. The result places the mining province ahead of Azuay in tax collection and highlights the fiscal weight of Fruta del Norte and Mirador.
Ecuador Extra Gasoline Demand Falls 8% As Price Band Lifts Retail Cost
Ecuador’s average gasoline consumption fell 3% in the first half of 2026, led by an 8% decline in Extra demand. The report links the change to higher prices, household pressure, and temporary supply shortages.
Colombia Reopens Private-Sector Electricity Trade With Ecuador
Colombia has formalized the restart of private-sector electricity trade with Ecuador after suspending energy sales in January 2026. The announcement does not specify delivered volumes, prices, or the exact first transaction date.
Chevron Seeks Enforcement Of USD 224.38M Ecuador Award In Washington
Chevron and TexPet have asked a Washington court to enforce a USD 224.38 million claim against Ecuador tied to a Hague award. The reported total includes USD 175.72 million in base damages, USD 40.47 million in pre-award interest, and post-award accruals.
Ecuador Oil Transport Falls 5% In First Half As OCP Volumes Drop
Ecuador’s crude transport declined 5% in the first half of 2026 as a 34% fall in OCP volumes outweighed a 17.5% gain through SOTE. The report links the lower throughput to a 1.5% decline in national oil production through May.
Ecuador And Canada Set July 24 Signing For Free Trade Agreement
Ecuador and Canada are scheduled to sign their free trade agreement on July 24, according to Ecuador’s vice minister for export promotion and investment. Authorities say the agreement would provide preferential access to a Canadian market of roughly 40 million consumers.
Ecuador Trade Surplus Falls 38% As Fuel Imports Rise Through May 2026
Ecuador’s trade surplus fell to USD 2.144 billion through May 2026 as imports grew faster than exports. Fuel and lubricant imports reached USD 3.683 billion, up 35% year over year, driven by higher oil prices and refinery constraints.
El Niño Could Accelerate Fusarium Spread In Ecuador Banana Sector
Ecuador’s banana sector is warning that El Niño rains and flooding could accelerate the spread of Fusarium R4T. A second case was confirmed in Santa Rosa, El Oro, on July 14, in a 90-hectare farm near the first detected focus.
Delivery Hero To Transfer PedidosYa Ecuador To SSW Partners
Delivery Hero signed an agreement with New York-based SSW Partners covering PedidosYa Ecuador and 13 other markets. The deal sits inside a broader transaction in which 50 Delivery Hero markets will become Uber, while SSW will independently seek strategic partners for the 14 transferred markets.
BCE Gold Purchases From Small Miners Reach USD 573M Over 10 Years
The Central Bank of Ecuador has purchased more than 9.8 tonnes of gold from artisanal and small-scale miners over 10 years, totaling USD 573 million. Gold monetary reserves reached USD 3.812 billion by April 2026, representing 33.11% of international reserves.
Ecuador Rice Exporters Await Colombia Permit Reopening After July 20 Deadline
Ecuadorian rice exporters are waiting for Colombia to reactivate import permits after a 45-day extension of the land-border restriction expired July 20. Corpcom says the sector stopped shipping 50,000 tonnes to Colombia between April and June, during peak harvest.
Ecuador Electricity Demand Hits 5,634.31 MW July Record
Ecuador’s electricity demand reached 5,634.31 MW at 19:00 on July 15, the highest level recorded so far in 2026. The peak exceeded the Electricity Master Plan’s 2026 normal-growth projection of 5,206 MW, adding pressure before the October-March dry season.
China-Made Vehicles Reach 57% Of Ecuador Auto Sales In H1 2026
Vehicles assembled in China represented 57% of Ecuador auto sales in the first half of 2026, according to Cinae. Monthly China-origin sales now exceed 7,000 units, while June 2026 set a record with 8,363 units.
Insecurity Is Top External Concern For 53% Of Ecuador SMEs
Insecurity is the leading external concern for 53% of Ecuador SMEs in Chubb’s latest barometer. The study says theft, violence and extortion create material losses, raise operating costs and reduce confidence in the business environment.
Ecuador Delivers First Locally Assembled Military Patrol Vehicle
Ecuador’s first locally assembled military patrol vehicle was delivered to the Joint Command of the Armed Forces. The Páramo model was assembled at Aymesa’s Quito plant with tactical adaptations, ballistic armor and specialized equipment.
SRI Sets Mechanism For Tax On Undistributed Corporate Profits
Ecuador’s tax authority established the mechanism for declaring and paying the single tax on dividends or profits not distributed to shareholders. The rule applies to companies that have not distributed accumulated profits from prior years by July 31 of the current fiscal year.
Ecuador Faces 1,300 MW Dry-Season Deficit Scenario In 2026 Power Planning
Ecuador faces at least six electricity-system challenges before the 2026 Amazon dry season, including climate risk, delayed thermal rentals, aging plants and maintenance timing. Hydroelectric generation normally covers about 85% of demand, making dry-season hydrology the central operating risk.
Ecuador Extends PCR Contract For Pindo Oil Block Through 2037
Ecuador’s environment and energy ministry signed a USD 69 million extension with Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia to operate the Pindo oil block through 2037. The contract includes exploration wells, development wells, workovers using hydraulic fracturing techniques and gas-capture systems.
Orion Energy And Gente Oil Submit Offers For Intracampos III Fields
Orion Energy and Gente Oil submitted offers for the Tetete Sur and Lumbaqui fields in Ecuador’s Intracampos III oil round. The government expects the round to lift national oil production by 9,900 to 12,000 barrels per day.
Ecuador Reports USD 1.292B In 2025 Sustainable Finance Mobilization
Ecuador mobilized USD 1.292 billion in sustainable finance in 2025, according to the Mesa de Finanzas Sostenibles. The total includes housing, water and sanitation, climate finance, biodiversity bonds and public development-bank credit lines.
Celec Awards USD 47.8M 50 MW Diesel Rental For Enrique García Plant
Celec awarded a USD 47.8 million contract to rent 50 MW of land-based thermal generation for the Enrique García plant in Guayaquil. The process launched on May 7 and was awarded July 8, creating a timing risk ahead of Ecuador’s October dry season.
Colombia Lifts Restriction On Ecuador Cargo Transport Operations
Colombia lifted a requirement affecting international ground cargo operations between Ecuador and Colombia on July 9, 2026. The change follows a June 15 CAN ruling that deemed the measure contrary to Andean Community law and gave Colombia 20 days to remove it.
Descartes’ USD 30M Drivin Acquisition Extends Into Ecuador Logistics
The Descartes Systems Group acquired Chilean logistics platform Drivin for USD 30 million. The transaction reaches Ecuador through Drivin’s local operation, which serves corporate and SME logistics clients in consumer goods, food and beverages, retail, pharmaceuticals and logistics operations.
Imbabura Targets USD 150,000 In 2026 Tango Mandarin Exports To U.S.
Ecuador is exporting tango mandarins from Imbabura to the United States, with the first of six planned shipments totaling 23,430 kilograms. Agrocalidad expects 140,550 kilograms in 2026, equivalent to USD 150,000 in planned exports.
Monetary Code Reform Proposes Inclusion Credit Rates For Borrowers Without History
A Monetary Code reform under review in the National Assembly proposes a special interest-rate regime for borrowers without credit history or risk-bureau records. The Financial and Monetary Policy Board would set the regime, while the proposal currently limits inclusion loans to 36 months.
Ecuador Private Banks Post Record USD 544.1M H1 Profit
Ecuador's private banking system reported USD 544.1 million in first-half 2026 profit, the highest first-half figure in a decade. The result was up 30.39% from USD 417.3 million in H1 2025, while Pichincha, Pacífico, Guayaquil and Produbanco captured 72% of sector profits.
SRI Shifts Commercial Transport Billing To Authorized Operators
Ecuador's SRI changed commercial transport billing rules from July 13, 2026. Heavy cargo, school, tourism, mixed, alternative and light cargo transport must now invoice clients through authorized operators, with 90 days to adapt electronic billing systems.
Ecuador Confirms Second Fusarium Foc R4T Case In El Oro
Agrocalidad confirmed Ecuador's second positive case of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 on July 14. The detection was in El Quemado, El Oro, adjacent to La Carolina, where authorities registered the country's first outbreak.
Nestlé Moves Nature’s Heart Production From Tabacundo To Guayaquil
Nestlé is moving Terrafertil's Nature's Heart production operation from Tabacundo to Guayaquil. Terrafertil reported 141 employees and USD 30.9 million in sales revenue in 2025, according to company-superintendency information cited in the report.
Guayaquil Business Chambers Challenge SRI 60% Credit-Note Limit
The Guayaquil Chamber of Industries and Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce challenged SRI Resolution NAC-DGERCGC26-00000015, which limits use of credit notes to 60% of the tax amount due from May 1, 2026. The chambers argue the measure hurts productive-sector liquidity.
SCE Clears TIL Acquisition Of Guayaquil’s Naportec Bananapuerto
Ecuador’s competition authority cleared TIL to acquire Naportec S.A., the Guayaquil Bananapuerto asset formerly tied to Dole Food Company. The transaction was previously announced at roughly USD 75 million, and SCE said the operation does not alter competition in the relevant port and container-shipping markets.
Fruta Del Norte Produces 118,994 Gold Ounces In Q2 2026
Fruta del Norte produced 118,994 ounces of gold in Q2 2026, including 79,208 ounces in concentrate and 39,786 ounces of doré. Lundin Gold sold 110,385 ounces at an average price of USD 4,359 per ounce and maintained 2026 guidance of 475,000-525,000 ounces.
Carga Segura Targets End-To-End Security For Ecuador-Europe Exports
Carga Segura is being positioned as an end-to-end export-security pilot from farms to European destination ports. The project involves Corpei, Fedexpor, banana and cacao sectors, European ports including Antwerp-Bruges, Rotterdam and Flushing, and public agencies on both sides of the route.
Customs Reform Targets More Than 12,000 Abandoned Containers Per Year
Ecuador’s Economic Development Committee approved the second-debate report for a customs reform bill. The proposal targets abandoned cargo, including more than 12,000 containers per year and approximately USD 450 million in retained cargo value.
Ecuador Seeks 90-110 MW Barge Extension As Dry-Season Risk Builds
Elecaustro opened a USD 42.7 million process to keep the 90-110 MW Erin Sultan barge operating at Las Esclusas. Cenace warns of a 25% probability of power deficits in the 2026-2027 dry season and says Ecuador needs at least 893.7 MW of additional capacity.
Ecuador Posts USD 2.144B Trade Surplus Through May 2026
Ecuador recorded a USD 2.144 billion goods trade surplus from January through May 2026, down 38% from the prior-year period. Exports reached USD 16.288 billion, while imports rose 18% to USD 14.143 billion.
China Projects Ecuador Trade Above USD 20B As Tariff Cuts Deepen
China’s consul in Guayaquil said bilateral trade could exceed USD 20 billion as third-year tariff reductions under the Ecuador-China agreement take effect. Bilateral trade reached USD 17.330 billion in 2025, up 24%.
Manabí Targets 8,000 Bovines In Cattle-Genetics Program
Manabí’s prefectural cattle program aims to inseminate more than 8,000 bovines and directly or indirectly benefit 1,500 livestock producers. The initiative operates through 34 livestock producer schools.
Petroecuador Awards 950,000-Barrel Fuel Oil Sale To Trafigura
Petroecuador awarded Trafigura PTE a 950,000-barrel Fuel Oil No. 6 sale expected to generate roughly USD 63 million. The sale covers five cargoes of 190,000 barrels each, plus or minus 10%, using the USGC HSFO marker and a USD -5.25 per-barrel differential.
Ecuador Finance Reform Targets Interest-On-Interest In Debt Refinancing
Ecuador’s Economic Regime Commission is preparing second-debate language on a financial reform targeting interest-on-interest treatment in some debt refinancings. The same reform would broaden securities-market intermediary roles beyond brokerage houses to include financial-system entities such as banks.
Ecuador Fuel Subsidy Cost Estimated At USD 650M Over Three Months
Ecuador’s fuel subsidy cost for Extra, Ecopaís and diesel was estimated at roughly USD 650 million between May and July 2026. The estimate breaks down to USD 190 million from April to May, USD 220 million from May to June, and USD 240 million from June 11 to July 11.
RUMBO Ecuador Proposes Long-Term Platform For Agriculture Strategy
RUMBO Ecuador is positioning itself as a long-term agriculture strategy platform connecting producers, academia, private companies, civil society and public institutions. The proposed structure includes a national assembly, territorial and thematic committees in every province, and an executive secretariat.
Asotep Ports Project USD 807M In Private Investment By 2030
Private port terminals associated with Asotep report USD 418 million in accumulated investment through 2025 and project roughly USD 807 million by 2030. The terminals handle about 1.2 million TEU annually, more than 44% of Ecuador’s non-oil cargo and roughly 14 million tons per year.
Ecuador Energy Plan Includes Colombia Purchases And 100 MW Rental Generation
Ecuador is preparing for the dry season with possible electricity purchases from Colombia and land-based rental generation targeting 100 MW this year. The plan comes as estiaje usually begins in September and may coincide with El Niño conditions.
Ecuador Spends USD 148.4M On Public-Sector Severance In First Half
Ecuador spent USD 148.4 million in the first half of 2026 on public-sector severance, including layoffs, post suppressions, resignation purchases and voluntary retirement incentives. The amount is USD 60 million, or 68%, above the first half of 2025.
Decree 444 Adjusts Ecuador Fuel Bands With Five-Cent July Drop
Ecuador changed the fuel-price stabilization formula under Decree 444, leading to a five-cent reduction from July 12 for Extra, Ecopaís and diesel. Extra and Ecopaís fall from USD 3.31 to USD 3.26 per gallon, while diesel Premium falls from USD 3.25 to USD 3.20.
China Suspends Shrimp Imports From Six Ecuadorian Companies
China suspended shrimp imports from seven Ecuadorian plants tied to six companies from June 30, while May rejections reached 132 lots and about 2,904 tons. The issue matters because China accounts for more than half of Ecuador’s shrimp export market.
Ecuador PAI Spending Reaches USD 1.158B In First Half Of 2026
Ecuador’s public investment plan spending reached USD 1.158 billion in the first half of 2026, more than double the same period of 2025. The acceleration matters because the PAI is funded with internal and external debt.
BanEcuador Consumer Credit Rises As Microcredit Falls Before El Niño
BanEcuador’s consumer-credit portfolio rose to USD 67 million in June 2026 while microcredit fell to USD 1.025 billion. The mix shift is notable as El Niño risk builds for agricultural borrowers.
Progen Local Dispute Adds USD 6.1M Claim To Celec Contract Fallout
A new contract dispute tied to Progen’s emergency generator work adds a USD 6.1 million claim between local companies to an already complex Celec fallout. The issue expands the commercial-risk map around Ecuador’s 2024 emergency power procurements.
Petroecuador Adds 3,181 bpd From New Auca Well
Petroecuador started operations at ACAL-245HUI in the Auca asset, adding 3,181 barrels per day and an estimated USD 5.2 million in monthly revenue for the state.
Quito Tenis y Golf Club Plans USD 75M Pifo Relocation
Quito Tenis y Golf Club is building a new 110-hectare site in Pifo with around USD 75 million in investment, while its 78-hectare El Condado site is positioned for park, road and housing uses.
Ecuador Cash Income Receipt Rises To 21% As Account Use Falls
A 2026 regional financial-inclusion survey found 21% of Ecuador respondents received salaries or other income in cash in 2025, up from 19% in 2024, while own-account receipt fell to 44%.
Ecuador Opens Dominican Republic Trade Talks After USD 148M Export Year
Ecuador and the Dominican Republic opened negotiations for a partial-scope agreement after Ecuador exported USD 148 million to that market in 2025 and posted Q1 2026 growth.
Ecuador Rice Industry Targets 50,000 Tons To Colombia After July 20 Route Reopening
Ecuador’s rice sector expects to resume land shipments to Colombia after July 20 and is targeting roughly 50,000 tons in second-half exports, according to the sector projection cited by Corpcom.
Ecuador FDI Reaches USD 431.5M In Q1 As Singapore And Peru Lead Inflows
Ecuador recorded USD 431.5 million in foreign direct investment in Q1 2026, up 85.7% from the same period of 2025, led by Singapore and Peru.
Ecuador E-Commerce Exceeds USD 7B As Marketplaces Scale Logistics
Ecuador’s e-commerce market exceeded USD 7 billion in 2025, with marketplaces scaling logistics, payment processing, same-day delivery, and merchant onboarding.
IESS Active Affiliates Reach 3.6 Million As Contribution Base Expands
Ecuador’s social-security system reached 3.6 million active affiliates as of May 2026, up more than 102,000 people from the prior year. The key operating data point for employers is the 9.45% employee contribution and 11.5% employer contribution on dependent labor.
El Nino Risk Map Exposes 460 Health Facilities In Yellow-Alert Parishes
At least 460 Ecuadorian health facilities operate in parishes under yellow alert for El Nino. The exposure is concentrated in Manabi and Guayas, and the public health ministry has not reported a contingency plan for the event.
CNE Receives 286 Complaints Against CPCCS Postulations For 2027 Vote
Ecuador’s electoral authority received 286 complaints against CPCCS postulations for the 2027 election cycle. The process now moves into review by the Verification Commission and a July 9-13 contradiction period.
Spain Housing Costs Pressure Ecuadorian Migrant Hubs In Madrid And Barcelona
Spain’s housing-price increase is concentrated in several provinces where Ecuadorian migrants live and work. Madrid reached USD 4,614 per square meter, while the Ecuadorian population in Spain exceeds 460,000 people.
Ecuador-Made Vehicle Sales Reach 7,922 Units In First Half Of 2026
Ecuadorian dealerships sold 78,136 vehicles in the first half of 2026, up 42.8% year over year. Locally assembled vehicles reached 7,922 units, keeping Aymesa and Ciauto relevant in a market led by China-assembled imports.
Ecuador Regulates VIS Housing Donations With 100% Income-Tax Rebate Mechanism
Ecuador issued Decree 440 to regulate donations of social-interest housing by companies and individuals. Donors can claim a rebate equal to 100% of the donated value, capped at 30% of income tax caused for the year, with no refund or carryforward for excess amounts.
Ecuador Remittances Reach USD 1.8567 Billion In First Quarter Of 2026
Remittances into Ecuador totaled USD 1.8567 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to central bank data cited in the latest report. The figure remained above the prior-year quarter but showed deceleration from the fourth quarter of 2025.
Ecuador Fisheries Face El Niño Supply Pressure As Tuna Catches Fall More Than 13%
Ecuador’s fishing sector is seeing lower availability as El Niño-linked warming redistributes marine resources. Tuna catches are down more than 13% versus 2025, while smaller coastal species used for fishmeal are under a July 1-August 9 closure.
Elecaustro Cancels 100 MW Emre Bey Barge Procurement After Sercop Objections
Elecaustro declared the Emre Bey floating-generation process deserted after Sercop identified procurement-law issues and recommended cancellation. The failed 100 MW contract is material because national demand averages about 4.300 MW and the government is preparing for the next dry season.
Assembly First Debate Puts Mora Interest And Securities-Market Reform In Same Bill
Ecuador’s Assembly opened first debate on a Código Monetario y Financiero reform covering mora-interest rules, forced-liquidation protections, and securities-market changes. The capital-market section drew objections from RC, Pachakutik, and PSC legislators over extrabursátil operations and unity-of-matter concerns.
Ecuador Launches Tuna Executive Table With Harvard Growth Lab Support
Ecuador’s public sector, private tuna actors, international organizations, Harvard Growth Lab, and CAF joined the first Mesa Ejecutiva del Sector Atunero. The mechanism is designed to produce concrete actions, assigned responsibilities, deadlines, and permanent follow-up for one of Ecuador’s core export chains.
Singapore’s Boroo Enters Ecuador Through Codelco-Linked Mining Concessions
Boroo, a Singapore mining company, has entered Ecuador by acquiring a significant number of concessions from Emsaec, the Codelco subsidiary. The areas are in exploration stage, and company details are expected once Boroo finalizes its in-country agenda.
Ecuador Agriculture Ministry Sets $20M El Niño Contingency Plan
Ecuador’s Agriculture Ministry presented a contingency plan of about $20 million for a possible El Niño event expected toward late 2026 and early 2027. Officials cited a worst-case exposure of up to 2 million hectares and roughly $1.3 billion in losses, around 1% of GDP.
Ecuador Opens $39.24M Tanicuchí Transmission System In Cotopaxi
Ecuador inaugurated the Tanicuchí transmission system in Cotopaxi, a $39.24 million project expected to benefit 487,919 residents. The system includes 230/138 kV infrastructure and 150 MVA of capacity, financed through BID, JICA, Celec and fiscal resources.
Ecuador Starts 30-Month Amazon Biocorridor Conservation Plan
Ecuador’s Environment and Energy Ministry launched the participatory conservation-planning process for the Amazon Biocorridor. The 30-month roadmap is linked to the country’s December 2024 debt-for-nature conversion and targets at least 1.8 million hectares and 18,000 kilometers of representative connected rivers.
Ecuador-Colombia Trade Recovery Moves Slowly After Tariffs Return To 0%
Ecuador-Colombia trade is recovering after bilateral tariff surcharges ended on June 1, 2026, but business groups say normalization is gradual. Non-oil exports to Colombia fell 5% in the first four months of 2026, while non-oil imports from Colombia contracted 22%.
Mexican-Owned Firms In Ecuador Generate 20,429 Direct Jobs, Trade Data Show
Mexican capital remains embedded in Ecuador through 13 registered companies in sectors including telecommunications, health, aviation, consumer goods and automotive activity. January-April 2026 trade data showed Ecuador imported USD 214.6 million from Mexico and exported USD 67.3 million.
Business Chamber Seeks Labor Ministry Clarification On June 26 Pay Treatment
Ecuador's Chamber of Industries and Production asked the Labor Ministry to clarify pay treatment for workers who labored on June 26, after Executive Decree 431 suspended the workday without recovery. Labor lawyers cited by the source argue the non-recoverable suspension creates a holiday-like payment consequence.