Ecuador's exports increase in price, but imports become more expensive in June 2026

Ecuador's export prices saw a notable increase of 5.02% in June 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, according to data released by the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE). This rise was primarily fueled by higher prices for key commodities such as copper, which jumped 45.95%, crude oil up 30.11%, and gold up 20.16%.

Despite the positive trend in export prices, the country faced a much steeper increase in the cost of imports, which rose by 19.73%. This significant disparity resulted in a 12.29% year-on-year decline in Ecuador's terms of trade index, which measures the ratio of export prices to import prices, settling at 90.26 points.

Adding to the complex trade picture, the volume of goods exported from Ecuador actually decreased by 6.13% in June 2026 compared to the previous year. This reduction was largely attributed to lower export volumes of crude oil, down 21.30%, and copper, down 31.68%. This indicates that while Ecuador received more money per unit for its exports, it shipped fewer goods overall.

The performance of cacao, a crucial export, presented a mixed picture. While its price increased by 5.76% from May 2026, it remained 47.61% lower than in June 2025. This continued weakness in cacao prices has impacted Ecuador's non-oil and non-mining exports, which saw a reduction in value between January and April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.