Ecuador Has Gone Three Months Without Domestic Premium Diesel Output

Ecuador's refinery outage has turned premium diesel into a higher-cost import exposure.

Primicias reports that Ecuador has accumulated three months without producing premium diesel, the fuel used by public transport, heavy vehicles, trucks and some pickup models.

Production has been suspended since March 1, 2026, after the latest fire at the Esmeraldas Refinery.

Import Exposure

Indicator	Figure
Premium diesel output suspension start	March 1, 2026
April domestic premium diesel output	0 barrels
March premium diesel imports vs. March 2025	+70.97%
April premium diesel imports vs. April 2025	+98.58%
March 2026 import price	$165.45/bbl
March 2025 import price	$102/bbl
March price increase	+62%
April 2026 import price	$183.43/bbl
April 2025 import price	$95.74/bbl
April price increase	+91.6%

Primicias reports that fuel prices have risen in the context of the war in the Middle East, which began on February 28, 2026.

Refinery Constraint

The Esmeraldas Refinery has operated on average at 40% of its installed processing capacity of 110,000 barrels per day since the fire.

On May 29, the plant processed 44,713 barrels per day, equivalent to 40.65% of capacity, according to ARCH data cited by Primicias.

The report says Esmeraldas is the only one of Ecuador's three refineries with a Hydrodesulfurization unit able to produce premium diesel by reducing sulfur.

Although the FCC unit restarted on May 15, Primicias reports it has reached a maximum load of 63% and does not directly produce diesel. One of the refinery's two crude units remains offline.

What To Watch

• Whether Petroecuador reaches its stated 86% operating-capacity target in the first week of June.
• Premium diesel import volumes and prices if Middle East risk keeps prices elevated.
• ARCH data on Crude 1 and Crude 2 operations at Esmeraldas.
• Fiscal pressure from subsidized diesel if import costs remain near April levels.

Source: Primicias