Ecuador Trade Balance Swings to Deficit

Ecuador recorded a trade deficit of $31.11 million in August 2026, compared with a surplus of $291.02 million in July. Exports fell 5.6% from the previous month to $3.51 billion, as non-oil shipments declined 11.3%, outweighing a 14.8% rise in oil sales. Meanwhile, imports increased 3.3% to $3.54 billion, led by purchases of durable consumer goods (+38.3%) and transport equipment (+10%), while fuels and lubricants purchases decreased 2.7%. Ecuador posted a $1.55 billion trade surplus between January and August 2026.

Ecuador recorded a trade surplus of $504.4 million in July 2026, reversing a $257.0 million deficit in July 2025. Exports reached $3.72 billion, increasing 48.5% year-on-year. Non-oil exports totaled $2.91 billion, up 25.0%, while shrimp exports reached $1.0 billion, rising 64.4%. Mining products totaled $545.3 million, up 59.4%. Imports reached $3.21 billion, increasing 16.4%, with fuels and lubricants recording the strongest growth, at 35.4%. Ecuador posted a $2.84 billion trade surplus between January and July 2026.

Ecuador’s trade surplus narrowed to $21.29 million in June 2026 from $564 million a year earlier. Exports declined 1.34% year-on-year to $3.28 billion, as non-oil exports fell 2.87%. Sales of traditional products declined 10.5%, led by cocoa and cocoa products (-49.7%), coffee and coffee products (-10.9%), tuna and fish (-21.4%), and bananas and plantains (-1%). In contrast, imports grew 18% to $3.26 billion. Purchases of consumer goods increased 13%, driven by a 43.3% rise in durable goods and a 4.6% increase in non-durable goods. Imports of fuels and lubricants rose 37.3%. Imports of raw materials increased 12.2%, led by industrial materials (+17.4%) and construction materials (+8.3%). Imports of capital goods rose 11.3%, with transport equipment up 16.2%, agricultural goods up 13.5% and industrial goods up 9%. Ecuador recorded a $2.34 billion trade surplus in the first half of 2026, down 44% from the same period of 2025.