Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Mother's Day Flower Exports Hit Record 24,800 MT (+16%); Quito Airport Rises to 4th in LatAm Cargo Rankings
Ecuador's Mother's Day flower export season set a new record at 24,800 metric tons over 21 days — a 16% increase over 2025. Avianca Cargo reported 55% growth in Ecuador operations. Quito's Mariscal Sucre airport climbed to 4th in Latin American cargo rankings.
Ecuador Shrimp Sector: 60 Million Pounds Held Up as Middle East War Disrupts Maritime Logistics
Ecuador's largest non-oil export faces a logistics crisis. CNA president José Antonio Camposano reports 60 million pounds of shrimp held up due to maritime route disruptions, port delays, and reefer container shortages caused by the US-Iran conflict. The May 3–18 curfew in coastal production zones adds operational pressure.
Ecuador Banana Exports Rise 10% in Q1 2026 to 111.57 Million Boxes Despite Shipping Disruptions
Ecuador shipped 111.57 million boxes of bananas in Q1 2026, up 9.8% year-over-year. The EU led demand with 34.2% market share and 19% growth, while Turkey posted a 40.5% surge. Shipping disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz closure added $300-600 per container in freight costs.
Ecuadorian Banana Exporters Target 25% South Korea Market Share by 2031 — AEBE Projects $100M Annual FX
Ecuador's banana export association AEBE projects that Ecuadorian bananas can capture 25% of the South Korean market — up from 11% / 3.57 million boxes in 2025 — once the 30% tariff phases out under the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement. Full zero-tariff access is set for 2031. AEBE estimates $100 million in annual FX earnings at target.
Fuel Adjustment Transmits to Guayaquil Wholesale Produce Prices — Onion Sacks Up to $45–52, Avocado Cases Double
Vendors at Guayaquil's Mercado Central and the Terminal de Transferencia de Víveres in Montebello are reporting sharp price increases on staple produce items — onion sacks moving from $15 to $45 (with a recent peak of $52), avocado cases from $7 to $14–22, and strawberry cases from $4 to $12–15 — following the April 12 national fuel price adjustment. The ExpresoRcoverage also documents how diesel's 4.7% rise is passing through supply chains.
Cacao Prices Collapse 59% From Peak — Farm-Gate at $180-$190/Quintal
International cacao prices have collapsed approximately 59% from the $13,000/ton peak reached in late 2024, with benchmark futures settling near $3,336/ton. Ecuadorian farm-gate prices for Nacional-variety cacao have fallen to $180-$190 per quintal, down from over $400 at the market's peak. The correction reflects demand destruction in European confectionery, speculative position unwinds, and improved West African production forecasts.
Shrimp Exports Surge 23% in January — On Track for Record Year
Ecuador's shrimp exports surged 23% year-over-year in January 2026, reaching 125,200 tonnes and reinforcing the sector's trajectory toward another record year. Full-year 2025 exports reached $7.47 billion, cementing shrimp as Ecuador's single largest non-oil export. China continues to absorb approximately 55% of volume, though diversification toward the US, EU, and Japan is accelerating.
Ecuador Shrimp Exports Surge 23% YoY to 125,200 MT in January 2026
Ecuador's shrimp exports surged 23% year-over-year to 125,200 metric tonnes in January 2026, extending the momentum from a record $7.47 billion performance in 2025. China's share of Ecuadorian shrimp imports declined to 49.5% from 54.2%, reflecting deliberate market diversification. The sector projects a 15% full-year volume increase driven by technification and genetic improvement programs.
Cacao Exports Projected at 623,000+ MT; Ecuador to Surpass Ghana as World No. 2
Ecuador's cacao exports are projected to exceed 623,000 metric tonnes in 2026, according to Anecacao, positioning the country to surpass Ghana as the world's second-largest cacao producer. Production has surged from 375,720 MT in 2023, with the 2026/27 season potentially exceeding 650,000 MT. The industry targets 800,000 MT by decade's end.
Ecuador Shrimp Exports Hit Record $8.4B in 2025 — Surpass Oil as Top Export for First Time
Ecuador's shrimp industry achieved a historic milestone in 2025, exporting $8.401 billion worth of product — a 20.2% increase over 2024 — and surpassing crude oil as the country's top export for the first time. Total non-oil exports reached $29.402 billion (+18.3% YoY). U.S. countervailing duties on Indian shrimp have accelerated Ecuador's market share gains, and industry projections suggest volumes could exceed 1.5 million metric tons in 2026.
Ecuador Shrimp Exports Hit $7.5B in 2025; January 2026 Volumes Up 23% YoY
Ecuador's shrimp exports reached $7.47 billion in 2025, up 23.2% year-on-year. January 2026 volumes continued the trajectory at 125,200 tonnes (+23% YoY). China accounts for 49.5% of export volume. Shrimp has officially surpassed petroleum as Ecuador's top export category, with industry projections targeting a further 15% increase in 2026.
Ecuador Cocoa on Track to Overtake Ghana as World's #2 Producer in 2026
Ecuador is projected to export over 623,000 metric tons of cocoa in 2026, according to Anecacao estimates, positioning the country to overtake Ghana as the world's second-largest producer behind Côte d'Ivoire. Cocoa exports have already surpassed banana exports in value for the first time in six decades, reaching $3.6 billion in 2024.