Ecuador records export record in second quarter of 2026

Ecuador’s exports reached a record $10.177 billion in the second quarter of 2026, the highest quarterly value ever recorded, the Central Bank of Ecuador said.

Exports rose 8.3% from the first quarter and 7% from the same period a year earlier. Oil exports drove much of the increase, reaching $2.8325 billion, up 36.9% year on year.

The rise came as the average price of Ecuadorian crude reached $87.1 per barrel, 51.9% above a year earlier. Exported volumes still fell 9.8%.

Shrimp was the leading non-oil export, reaching a record $2.5544 billion after growing 7.9% year on year. The increase reflected stronger demand from China and the United States. Cocoa and processed cocoa exports moved in the opposite direction, falling 54.9% from a year earlier as international prices corrected after reaching highs in 2024 and 2025.

Imports also reached a quarterly record, at $9.4072 billion, after rising 23.2% year on year. Higher purchases of fuels and lubricants drove the increase. Ecuador recorded a trade surplus of $769.8 million, but that was 59% below the comparable figure from 2025 because imports grew much faster than exports. The United States remained Ecuador’s biggest export market, followed by China and Panama, while the United States and China were its main suppliers.