Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Only 36 of an Estimated 1,600 Ecuadorian Savings Boxes Are Compliant Before November 2026 SEPS Deadline
Ecuador's Superintendencia de Economía Popular y Solidaria reports only 36 community savings boxes have formalized, against an estimated 1,600 operating nationwide. The compliance deadline is November 2026, and informal third-party deposit-taking persists despite the ban.
Noboa Cites 4% Growth, Sub-2% Inflation, Record 2025 FDI in CNN Interview — Claims Pending Independent Confirmation
In a CNN interview from Washington D.C., President Noboa cited 4% economic growth, inflation below 2%, a record for 2025 foreign direct investment, and poverty reduced to 21.4%. These are presidential talking points; Ecuador Brief flags them as claims to be reconciled against official BCE and INEC data.
Plan Credicasa Delivers 125 Homes on May 12 at 2.99% Biess Mortgage Rate; $15M in Total Disbursements Across 300+ Loans
Ecuador's Plan Credicasa housing program delivered 125 additional homes on May 12, financed at 2.99% through Biess and developed in partnership with Ambiensa. The program has processed over 300 disbursements totaling $15 million, with 1,300+ pending applications nationally and 478 from Guayas province alone.
Ecuador Banking Sector Posts $305M in Profits Through April; Credit Portfolio Reaches $53.4B at 12.8% Annual Growth
Ecuador's private banking sector recorded $305 million in combined profits through April 2026, with the total credit portfolio reaching $53.4 billion — a 12.8% annual increase. Deposits grew 13.4% to $62.7 billion. ROE hit 14%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
Ecuador's $1B May Bond Placement Drew $7B in Demand; Country Risk at 404 Points — Lowest Since 2014
Ecuador placed $1 billion in sovereign bonds on May 6 at an 8.5% annual rate, drawing $7 billion in demand from 200 international investors — a 7x oversubscription. Country risk has fallen from 1,908 points in April 2025 to 404 today, restoring market access after seven years.
Aeropuerto de Cancún Acquires Indirect Control of Quiport Through Motiva Stake Purchase; Regulator Approves
Ecuador's Superintendencia de Competencia Económica approved the acquisition by Aeropuerto de Cancún S.A. de C.V. of 100% of Brazilian company Motiva's shares, granting the Mexican group indirect control of Corporación Quiport — operator of Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport.
Ecuador April Sales Reach $24.37B: Mining +28.6% to $977M, Energy +28.4%, Real Estate +28.4% as Amazon Provinces Lead Growth
Ecuador's April 2026 commercial sales reached $24.37 billion — 12.7% above April 2025 and 23% above 2024. Mining and quarrying led with $977.3 million (+28.6%), while energy supply and real estate each grew 28.4%. Amazon provinces posted the fastest growth, with Zamora Chinchipe surging 41.5%.
BIESS Portfolio Reaches $28.3 Billion With Record 9.08% Return in Q1 2026
Ecuador's BIESS reported a portfolio value of $28.284 billion at end-2025, up 8% year-over-year with an 8.89% return — exceeding the actuarial benchmark by 2.64 percentage points. Q1 2026 return reached 9.08%, the highest ever recorded by the institution.
Ecuador Country Risk Falls to 404 Points �� Lowest Since 2015, Down 66% Year-Over-Year
Ecuador's sovereign risk premium dropped to 404 basis points on April 22, 2026 — the lowest reading since 2015 and a 66% decline from the 1,186 points recorded at the start of 2025. The decline reflects GDP growth of 3.7%, a 42% surge in international reserves, and continued IMF program compliance.
Small-Segment Cooperatives Drive Liquidations in Ecuador's COAC Sector — 29 in Process as of March 2026
Ecuador has 393 credit cooperatives, but liquidation pressure is concentrated at the small end. As of March 2026, 29 cooperatives are in liquidation — 20 from segment 5 and 9 from segment 4. Cosede deposit insurance covers only USD 1,000 per depositor at those segments.
Pizza Hut Ecuador Changes Hands — Pepperoni Holdings (Panama) Acquires 80-Location Franchise for $7.8M
Telepizza Gestión and Food Delivery Brands have divested their Ecuadorian Pizza Hut operator Sodetur to Pepperoni Holdings, a newly organized Panama entity backed by three Grupo Hanaska executives. The $7.8 million transaction was registered on March 11, 2026 and covers approximately 80 Pizza Hut locations. Sodetur's 2023 revenue was $29.1 million on a $1.3 million net loss.
BCE 2025 Rendición: International Reserves Close at $9.795B, Cover 100% of Financial System Deposits
Ecuador's Central Bank closed 2025 with $9.795 billion in international reserves — one of the highest levels since dollarization — covering 100% of first- and second-system financial deposits and 57% of third-system obligations. Interbank payment transactions grew 11.67% year-over-year to $194.287 billion.