Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Ecuador Credit Card Base Reaches 4.63M Active Cards As First-Time Users Rise
Ecuador’s credit card market expanded in 2025, with 4.63 million cards recording consumption and more than 61,000 first-time cardholders. The data points to deeper formal credit penetration, though household leverage and bank underwriting quality remain key indicators.
Progen-Celec Contract Scrutiny Expands As Pre-Award Lobbying Timeline Emerges
Progen’s activities before winning major Celec contracts are drawing renewed scrutiny after Primicias reported a pre-award timeline of meetings and moves involving energy-sector figures. The issue keeps emergency generation procurement in focus for contractors, lenders and policy watchers.
Ecuador Excludes Exploration From 2026 Mining Fee, Projects USD 44.04M In Revenue
Ecuador updated its 2026 mining supervision and control fee methodology to exclude exploration and economic-evaluation concessions. The government projects USD 44.04 million in total revenue, including metallic concessions, processing plants, non-metallic concessions and commercial licenses.
Ecuador Poultry Exports Top 4,300 Tons Since 2023 as Industry Targets China
Ecuador has exported more than 4,300 metric tons of chicken since entering the market in 2023, according to industry figures cited by El Universo. The sector is targeting China and Central America while domestic annual chicken output stands near 564,497 tons.
El Nino Raises 2026 Operating Risk For Ecuador Cacao, Banana And Rice Producers
Ecuador’s agricultural exporters are preparing for El Nino exposure across cacao, rice and bananas. Cacao represented USD 4.5 billion for the economy in 2025 and supports 250,000 families across about 600,000 planted hectares, while rice production is concentrated in flood-prone lowland zones.
Ecuador Mortgage Ceiling Falls to 10.19% as Market Rates Move Lower
Ecuador’s maximum mortgage rate fell to 10.19% in June 2026, down 0.92 percentage points from a year earlier. Primicias reports average private-bank mortgage rates of 7.35%, Biess program rates as low as 2.99%, and Tu Casa Miti-Miti loans at a fixed 4.99%.
Ecuador Households Now Use 10 Retail Channels as Price Pressure Shapes Demand
Ecuadorian households now use 10 retail channels, up from six before the pandemic, according to Expreso. The shift reflects pressure from households living on USD 513 or less per month and a basic family basket listed at USD 828.97.
El Niño Could Add Up to 1.85 Points to Ecuador Inflation and Raise 2027 Cost Risks
Expreso reports El Niño 2026-2027 is active and could add up to 1.85 percentage points to Ecuador’s inflation. The food-price impact may arrive two to six months after the climate event, while hydropower risk remains part of the macro watchlist.
Biess Lists Property Auctions From July as Distressed Assets Move Through Coactive Processes
Biess has property auctions beginning in July 2026, including apartments from USD 23,000 and Quito houses from USD 26,000. Primicias says the assets come from coactive collection processes and are listed through the Biess Remates platform.
Ecuador Cuts Mining-Fee Revenue Forecast to USD 44M as Exploration Is Excluded
Ecuador reduced its projected annual mining-fee revenue from USD 220 million to USD 44 million after excluding exploration-stage concessions from the control fee. The revised framework, in force from June 26, adds 300 mineral-processing plants and recalibrates payment timing for 2026.
Ecuador-Colombia Trade Fell to USD 700M During Tariff Dispute, Recovery Seen at 75%
Ecuador-Colombia trade fell to USD 700 million in January-April 2026 from USD 888 million a year earlier during a four-month tariff dispute. Commercial flows are recovering after tariff removal, but Tulcán chamber leadership estimates normalization may still take 30 to 40 days.
Ecuador Fuel Band Pushes Diesel to USD 3.25 and Extra Gasoline to USD 3.31 in June
Diesel reached USD 3.25 per gallon and Extra gasoline reached USD 3.31 in June 2026 under Ecuador’s monthly fuel-price band system. The adjustment mechanism remains a cost variable for logistics, transport and consumer inflation exposure.