Ecuador Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in April

Ecuador's trade surplus narrowed to $450.43 million in May 2026 from a surplus of $498.39 million in the same month a year earlier. Imports increased 16.2% to $3,248 million, driven by higher purchases of fuels and lubricants (63%) and capital goods (16%), namely industrial goods (17%). Meanwhile, exports rose at a slower pace of 12.3% to $3,698 million, supported by higher oil exports (76%) and higher shipments of crude oil (76%), with additional support from non-traditional goods by 6%, mainly tobacco (45%).

Ecuador's trade balance swung to a deficit of $283.9 million in April 2026 from a surplus of $382.2 million in the same month a year earlier. Imports surged 38.8% year-on-year to $3.48 billion, driven by a 127.9% jump in purchases of fuels and lubricants. Imports of raw materials rose 19.1%, while those of consumer goods and capital goods increased 15.2% and 16.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, exports rose 10.6% to $3.19 billion. Shipments of primary products increased 13.0%, while exports of industrialized goods edged down 0.2%.

Ecuador's trade surplus narrowed sharply to $354.78 million in March 2026 compared to a surplus of $791.07 million a year earlier. Imports surged 34.8% to $3.18 billion, driven by a 22.2% rise raw material purchases, a matching 22.2% rise in consumer goods and nearly double the purchases of fuel and lubricants to $889 million from $466 million. Meanwhile, exports rose at a slower pace of 12.2% to $3.53 billion, primarily due to a 49.3% rise in shipments of primary goods to $761 million, particularly mining, and a 7.7% increase in industrial goods to $442 million.