The Central Bank of Ecuador published its quarterly foreign trade bulletin, reporting record goods exports of USD 10.177 billion and record imports of USD 9.407 billion in the second quarter of 2026. Exports rose 7.0% year over year, while imports increased 23.2%, narrowing the trade surplus by 59.0% to USD 769.8 million compared with the same period in 2025. Oil exports climbed 36.9% to USD 2.833 billion as the average price of Ecuadorian crude rose 51.9% to USD 87.10 per barrel, despite a 9.8% decline in export volumes. Shrimp exports reached a record USD 2.554 billion on stronger demand from China and the United States, while cocoa and related exports fell 54.9% following a correction in international prices. Import growth was driven mainly by fuels and lubricants, with oil related imports rising 71.4%.
2026-09-04Central Bank of Ecuador
Central Bank of Ecuador reports record second quarter exports and imports, trade surplus narrows 59%
The Central Bank of Ecuador reported record second quarter exports of USD 10.177 billion and imports of USD 9.407 billion. Faster import growth narrowed the trade surplus by 59.0% year over year to USD 769.8 million, despite higher oil and shrimp exports.