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 on July 20, 2026.

Restriction Timeline

Colombia's Decree 0583, issued on June 5, lifted tariffs on Ecuadorian products but kept the land-border rice restriction in place for another 45 days.

The restriction had been in force since February 24.

According to Corpcom, Ecuadorian rice processors stopped sending 50,000 tonnes of rice to Colombia between April and June, during the period of highest harvest.

Market Exposure

Ecuador exports between 60,000 and 70,000 tonnes of milled rice to Colombia each year. That represents about 90% of the sector's exports.

The industry processes about 900,000 tonnes of milled rice annually, with about 780,000 tonnes for domestic consumption.

Strategic reserves cover at least two months of consumption, or about 120,000 tonnes.

What To Watch

Watch Colombia's permit reactivation, August harvest pressure in Colombia, negotiated shipment volumes, and El Niño impacts on rice crops.