Ecuador's 2026 Curfews Hit an Estimated 120,000 Businesses, Expreso Reports

Ecuador's curfews have ended for now, but the business cost is still being counted.

Expreso reports that curfews applied in 2026 have accumulated 30 days of restrictions and affected at least 120,000 businesses, especially restaurants, bars, cafes and night-time ventures.

The Cost Estimate

Economist Juan Sebastian Naranjo estimated that, based on 2025 sales, losses from the two curfews this year could be between USD 16 million and USD 32 million, according to Expreso.

The report says business groups warned that nighttime restrictions also affected container operations, exports and imports, generating delays and sales declines of up to 40% in some sectors.

Holbach Muneton, president of the National Federation of Provincial Tourism Chambers, said bars and discos lost up to 80% of sales during curfew days, Expreso reports.

The article also cites Miguel Angel Gonzalez, president of the Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce, saying that about 35% of Guayaquil companies maintain nighttime operations or activities, especially in industry, logistics and entertainment.

What This Means For Expats

Even if you were not out late during the curfew, the knock-on effects can show up in restaurant hours, delivery reliability, nightlife, tourism businesses, jobs and local cash flow. For expat-owned businesses or residents working with small suppliers, the important point is that the security measure had a microeconomic cost even where the national macro numbers may not show much movement.

Source: Expreso