Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
UAFE Freezes Progen-Linked Accounts as USD 104M Generator Case Widens
Ecuador’s UAFE has frozen funds in accounts associated with private actors linked to the Progen generator-contract case. The government says investigators are tracing USD 104M paid to Progen, including 89 transactions and a reported USD 15.2M transfer to Astrobryxa.
SuperCías Information-Access Reform Raises Corporate Confidentiality Risk
Ecuador’s Superintendencia de Compañías is working on reforms to the Companies Law that could expand shareholder access to corporate information regardless of ownership percentage. Business lawyers and chambers warn that the measure needs safeguards to protect strategic, contractual, tax, labor and customer data.
Ecuador Invests More Than USD 3M in Irrigation Across 525 Hectares
Ecuador has invested more than USD 3M in seven technified irrigation projects covering 525 hectares. The program directly benefits 517 agricultural producers and indirectly supports more than 2,000 people, with the government targeting productivity, climate resilience and financing access for small and medium producers.
Guayaquil Airport Keeps Flights Operating After Security Event Restricts Access
Guayaquil’s airport remained operational for scheduled domestic and international flights after a June 17 shooting outside the terminal. The business impact was concentrated in access control, passenger flow and security operations rather than immediate flight cancellations.
ARCOM Proposes Cutting Mining-Fee Target to USD 44M and Excluding Exploration
ARCOM is circulating a reform to Ecuador’s mining supervision fee that would cut projected collection by roughly 80%, from USD 221.75M to USD 44M. The proposal would exclude initial exploration, advanced exploration and economic evaluation projects, addressing one of the mining sector’s main investment-cost objections.
Ecuador Security Decree Targets Areas With 2,648 Homicides in Four Months
Ecuador’s new state of exception concentrates military and police intervention in ten provinces and three cantons that registered 2,648 of 2,778 national homicides from January through April. Guayas alone accounted for 1,223 violent deaths, making the decree material for port, logistics, mining and urban operating-risk analysis.
Contraloría Rule Would Allow Classified Audit Files to Be Destroyed After 30 Days
Ecuador’s National Assembly approved a rule allowing the Contraloría to destroy classified state documents within 30 calendar days after audit reports are final and executed. The reform changes the governance and audit-trail environment for classified public-sector information, with civil-society groups asking the Executive to veto the provision.
Petroecuador Output Reaches 365,973 bpd, Still Below June Plan
Petroecuador highlighted 370,197 BOE/d on June 15, its best level in recent months, but the number includes crude and natural gas. Crude output was 365,973.40 bpd, below the June plan of 376,223.01 bpd and still short of the production recovery needed for fiscal and export targets.
SEPS Data Show 38 Credit Cooperatives in Forced Liquidation as Delinquency Exceeds 8%
SEPS data show 38 Ecuadorian credit cooperatives were in forced liquidation as of May 5, 2026. Ambato accounted for 36.8% of the cases, Quito 26.3% and Cuenca 21.1%, with sector delinquency above 8% versus roughly 3% in private banking.
Oil Drop May Cut Ecuador Subsidy Cost Before Fuel Prices Fall
WTI fell 4.9% to USD 80.75 per barrel after an announced U.S.-Iran agreement, but Ecuador fuel prices are not expected to decline immediately. Current subsidies are USD 1.60 per gallon for diesel, USD 1.62 for Ecopais and USD 1.02 for Extra, making the fiscal account the first transmission channel.
Housing Reservations Rise 28% as Ecuador Builders Target 40,000 Units
Ecuador net housing reservations rose 28% from January to April 2026 versus the same period in 2025, the strongest annual increase in at least three years. Builders are targeting 40,000 units or more for the year, supported by USD 362 million in unsubsidized mortgage credit and USD 113 million through Miti-Miti.
IVA Refund Dispute Reaches Constitutional Court as SRI Refunds Fall 28.5%
A retirees group has taken IVA refund delays to Ecuador’s Constitutional Court after a rejected protection action in Pichincha. The dispute comes as SRI cash tax refunds reached USD 134.5 million from January to April 2026, down 28.5% from the same period in 2025.
