Ecuador Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in April

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.

Ecuador's trade surplus narrowed to $263.89 million in February 2026, down from $512.64 million a year earlier, marking the lowest since last October. Exports fell 7.44% year-on-year to $2.76 billion, with primary products declining 8.73% and industrial goods down 1.2%. Imports rose 1.1% to $2.50 billion, driven by a 16.2% increase in consumer goods and a 4.4% rise in raw materials. However, this growth was offset by a 12.9% drop in fuel and lubricant purchases and a 2.7% decline in capital goods. The combined effect narrowed the trade surplus, reflecting weaker export performance and mixed import dynamics.