Ecuador news, written for expats

Locally assembled vehicles reached 1,649 sales in July, up 38% from a year earlier. A new Ecuador-Argentina agreement sets a reciprocal 10% vehicle tariff and preferential quotas for 3,000 units from each country over 10 years.

Hacienda La Paz took first place at the national Pepa de Oro competition during the ninth World Cacao Summit. The family business was established in Guayas in 1969 and distributes agricultural products nationally and internationally.

Private financial institutions disbursed USD 734 million in mortgage loans between January and June, while Biess placed another USD 263 million. Combined housing finance reached USD 997 million for the first half of the year.

Ecuador’s multilateral debt rose from USD 9.453 billion in 2018 to USD 28 billion in May 2026, while annual debt service now exceeds USD 3.4 billion, according to an OPF analysis.

The Ministry of Health’s central warehouse and two provinces had zero stock of iron supplements in the reported data, while national demand reaches 112,542 children.

The new Cuadro Nacional de Medicamentos Básicos increases the catalog from 494 to 512 active ingredients and will take effect during 2026 after official publication.