Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Starbucks Targets Nine Ecuador Stores With Guayaquil-Daule Expansion
Starbucks is preparing stores at Mall del Sol in Guayaquil and El Dorado in La Aurora, Daule, moving its Ecuador footprint beyond Quito. Sector sources estimate openings between July and August 2026, which would lift the chain to nine stores after USD 5.4M in 2025 sales.
Quito COE Reviews El Niño Water Plan as Blanco Chico Repairs Target 700 L/s
Quito’s metropolitan emergency committee is reviewing an El Niño contingency plan focused on water reserves, Papallacta supply and fire risk. The Blanco Chico recovery project is expected to restore 700 liters per second at an approximate cost of USD 700,000.
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.
Quito Bicentenario Road Plan Could Affect 15 of 103 Park Hectares
A Quito road-extension proposal would prolong Amazonas, Real Audiencia and Rafael Aulestia through the Bicentenario Park area. One council member said the plan includes 2.2 km and 2.5 km road sections and could affect 15 of the park's 103 hectares.
Ecuador Commits $3M for 24,000 m² Naval Station at Posorja — Protecting Contecon, TPG/Inarpi, Bananapuerto Approaches
Ecuador is committing USD 3 million to a 24,000 m² Naval Station at Posorja, targeting maritime interdiction along the Gulf of Guayaquil approaches serving Ecuador's principal export port complex. Construction ~1 year; operational 2027.
Ambiensa Breaks Ground on La Estación 1 in Chongón — 4,500 m², 40+ Brands, December 2026 Opening
Ambiensa's subsidiary Corporación Guayaquil broke ground on La Estación 1, Chongón's first shopping center. The 4,500 m² development on 1.2 hectares has already reached 87% pre-leasing in three months, with 40+ brands committed. Opening is scheduled for December 2026. A second phase, La Estación 2, is already in planning.
Ecuador Construction Sector: $6.5B Pipeline, 20.5% Sales Growth, Government Stimulus Package
President Noboa declared 2026 the 'year of construction,' announcing sector sales growth of 20.5%, $6.5 billion in purchase-sale promises, and real estate transaction growth of 17.8%. Government stimulus includes preferential mortgage programs, IVA refunds for builders, and a new social housing law. The sector confidence index jumped from 45.5 to 61.6 year-over-year.
Construction Sector Forecast: 4.6% Annual Growth Through 2029, $7.5B PPP Pipeline
Ecuador's construction sector is projected to grow at an average rate of 4.6% annually from 2026 through 2029, following 3.8% real growth in 2025, according to Research & Markets. The Ministry of Infrastructure has allocated $407 million in its 2026 Annual Investment Plan, with the 'Creamos Vivienda' housing program ($58M) and Guayaquil's Fifth Bridge ($33M) anchoring the near-term pipeline. A broader $7.5 billion in public-private partnership investments has been published on the SOURCE infrastructure platform, driven by energy infrastructure, mining cluster development, and social housing.
CAF Approves $42M Loan for Cuenca Municipal Infrastructure Development
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) signed a $42 million loan agreement with the GAD Municipal de Cuenca for urban infrastructure development. The sovereign-guaranteed sub-national loan is one of CAF's largest municipal commitments in Ecuador outside Quito and Guayaquil, targeting water systems, urban mobility, and climate resilience at a time when Cuenca faces escalating infrastructure strain.
National Assembly Fast-Tracks Social Housing Tax Reform — Debated in Special Cuenca Session
Ecuador's National Assembly convened a rare plenary session at the Universidad Católica de Cuenca on March 17-18, passing prison reform legislation with 84 votes and completing the first debate on a tax reform bill designed to incentivize social housing construction. The government classified the housing bill as 'urgent in economic matters,' triggering fast-track legislative procedures.
Construction Sector Posts $2.45 Billion and 8% Growth in 2025 — Government's Miti-Miti Mortgage Program Set to Double Lending Volume in 2026
Ecuador's construction sector generated $2.45 billion in output during 2025, posting 8% year-over-year growth after 27 consecutive months of contraction. The recovery is driven primarily by the government's 'Tu Casa Miti-Miti' mortgage program, which offers subsidized interest rates of 4.87-4.99% — well below market rates of 9-11%. Vice Minister of Housing Daniel Elmir projects that mortgage lending under the program will double in 2026 as coverage expands to secondary cities beyond Quito and Guayaquil.
Corporacion America Airports Secures 6-Year Extension for Galapagos Seymour Airport Through 2032, Terminal Charge Rises to $31.18 Per Passenger
Corporacion America Airports secured a six-year extension for the Seymour Airport concession on Baltra Island, Galapagos, running through December 31, 2032. The Terminal Use Charge will increase by $5.20 to $31.18 per passenger, generating additional revenue for infrastructure improvements at the primary gateway to one of the world's most ecologically sensitive tourism destinations.
