Reviewed archive · July 21, 2026
Ecuador's goods-trade surplus narrowed through May 2026
Originally published July 21, 2026 · Reviewed September 25, 2026
Ecuador recorded a $2.144 billion goods-trade surplus from January through May 2026, according to the Central Bank. That surplus was 38% smaller than in the same five months of 2025, even though exports rose 5% to $16.288 billion. The reason is comparative growth: imports rose 18% to $14.143 billion over the period.
Fuel and lubricant imports were $3.683 billion, 35% more than a year earlier. The bank identified the United States as the main origin for that category. A larger import bill helps explain why a growing export total did not translate into a larger trade surplus; it does not, by itself, establish the causes of every individual shipment or price change.
The export mix also diverged. Shrimp exports reached $3.892 billion, up 12%, and mining products $2.221 billion, up 47%. Cacao and cacao-product exports were $820 million, down 59% year over year. The bank calculated that non-oil exports grew 14% if cacao was excluded, illustrating how that commodity's decline weighed on the overall non-oil result.
May on its own produced a $645 million surplus, after a $70 million deficit in April. Monthly balances can move in the opposite direction from the year-to-date comparison. All figures here refer to the January–May 2026 release; the page does not claim to describe Ecuador's trade balance after May.
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