Ecuador Sees 85% Jump in Foreign Direct Investment in Q1 2026

Ecuador has experienced a significant surge in foreign direct investment (FDI), with inflows reaching $431.5 million in the first quarter of 2026. This figure represents an impressive 85% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to data released by the Central Bank of Ecuador.

This substantial growth marks the highest FDI flow recorded for a first quarter in recent years. The total inflow for the period surpassed that of January-March 2025 by $199.1 million and shows a remarkable 286.1% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024. The Central Bank attributed these strong results to the "shares and other capital participations" component, which amounted to $138.8 million, driven by statutory accounting operations like reserve capitalization and credit compensation that boosted companies' social capital.

Furthermore, reinvested profits contributed $246.7 million, with significant operations in this category playing a key role in the overall growth of direct investment. An additional $46 million was recorded under "other capital," stemming from financial relationships between parent companies abroad and their Ecuadorian branches, indicating a net flow of disbursements over amortizations.

The primary sources of this investment were Singapore, which invested $105.1 million, and Peru, with $101.6 million. Other significant contributors included Panama, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and the United States. The investment was predominantly channeled into the trade sector ($149.4 million), followed by agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing ($101.8 million), and the manufacturing industry ($90.7 million).