Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Ecuador Oil Output Falls 1.5% In January-May 2026
Ecuadorian crude production fell 1.5% between January and May 2026, according to Primicias. The decline keeps energy-sector execution and Petroecuador output central to fiscal monitoring for the rest of the year.
Ecuador-Argentina Auto Deal Would Cut Import Tariff to 10%
Ecuador and Argentina have completed negotiations on an automotive trade agreement that would lower the tariff on Argentine vehicles entering Ecuador from 28% to 10%. The measure could reshape import pricing, competition and regional supply-chain positioning in Ecuador’s auto sector.
Assembly Orders 30-Day Review Of Progen Fund Transfers
The National Assembly unanimously ordered a review into the destination and route of funds transferred by Progen, with a 30-day report deadline. The case adds governance risk around public contracting and power-sector procurement.
Colombia Power Sales Could Cut Ecuador's Dry-Season Deficit to 850 MW
Colombia could resume electricity sales to Ecuador after publishing a June 7 draft resolution, but supply is uncertain from November 2026 into early 2027. Primicias reports that Colombian imports could reduce Ecuador's severe dry-season deficit from roughly 1,300 MW to 850 MW if the 450 MW interconnection is available.
BDE Places USD 100M Green Bond as Public Banking Enters Market
Banco de Desarrollo del Ecuador issued USD 100 million in green bonds in its first securities-market operation of this type. The issue drew 125% demand, with 80% bought by the private sector, and is intended to finance environmental infrastructure projects.
EV Import Delays Hit Ecuador as RoRo Capacity Tightens
Ecuador sold 4,019 electric vehicles in the first five months of 2026, more than triple the prior-year level, with BYD accounting for 39% of the segment. Primicias reports that RoRo shipping space for Ecuador has fallen around 30%, creating delivery delays for BYD and other Asia-sourced brands.
LATAM Adds Quito-Santiago Route With 35,000 Annual Seats
LATAM opened sales for a direct Quito-Santiago route that will begin in December 2026 with four weekly flights. El Universo reports that the service will add about 35,000 seats per year and reduce travel times by one and a half to three hours versus connecting options.
Ecuador Auto Assembly Triples to 6,647 Units as Argentina Deal Draws Industry Pushback
Ecuador’s three remaining vehicle assemblers produced 6,647 units from January through April 2026, nearly triple the 2,438 units assembled in the same period of 2025. Industry leadership says the pending Argentina agreement is asymmetric because it lowers Ecuador’s export tariff by only five points while cutting Argentina’s import tariff by 18 points.
Ecuador Unemployment Falls to 3.1% as Informal Employment Holds at 52.8%
Ecuador’s unemployment rate fell from 4.1% in May 2025 to 3.1% in May 2026, equivalent to about 86,000 fewer unemployed people. The business signal is mixed: adequate employment reached 36.6%, but informal employment still covered 52.8% of employed workers.
Ecuador SME Credit Rises 12% as Cooperatives and BanEcuador Drive Placement
Ecuadorian SME credit placement rose about 12% from January through May 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Cooperatives and public banking, especially BanEcuador, accounted for 70% of the increase, while private banks represented 30%.
Petroecuador Lobo Field Reaches 2,300 bpd After 20-Year Drilling Gap
Petroecuador restarted drilling activity at the Lobo field in Block 7 after more than 20 years without new wells. The mature-field program lifted production from about 500 bpd to more than 2,000 bpd, reaching a 2,300 bpd peak in the first half of 2026.
Ecuador Collected USD 149M From Colombia Tariff, Raising Refund-Claim Exposure
Ecuador collected USD 149 million from the security tariff imposed on Colombian imports between February and May 2026. The tariff reached 100% in May before being eliminated on June 1, creating potential refund-claim exposure after CAN ordered both countries to lift reciprocal trade measures.
