Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
WTI crude surged past $100/barrel in early April, driven by the Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption. For Ecuador, it's a double-edged sword: oil exports bring in more revenue, but the fuel band system passes the pain directly to consumers at the pump.
Ecuador will formally accept its largest hydroelectric plant from Chinese builder Sinohydro by April 17, despite more than 7,600 documented fissures in critical equipment that the Comptroller ordered repaired. The settlement releases approximately $200 million in guarantees back to Sinohydro. The plant currently operates at less than half its 1,500 MW capacity.
Ecuador's International Artisan Biennial has activated across four host cities, showcasing traditional and contemporary craftsmanship. The event coincides with Cuenca's Foundation Week and features exhibitions, live demonstrations, and direct-purchase opportunities from artisans.
Italian singer Laura Pausini will perform in Quito on April 24, 2026 at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui as part of her international tour. Tickets are available through standard Ecuadorian ticketing channels.
Colombian singer-songwriter Andrés Cepeda brings his 'Nuestra Vida en Canciones' tour to Ecuador this week with back-to-back shows: Guayaquil on Wednesday April 9 at the Coliseo Voltaire Paladines Polo, and Quito on Thursday April 10 at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 55 km east of Santa Elena early Saturday morning, April 4. The tremor was felt across six provinces including Guayas, but caused no structural damage, injuries, or tsunami alert. Here's what happened and what expats on the coast should know.
Ecuador's monthly fuel price adjustment on April 12 could push low-octane gasoline past the $3/gallon mark for the first time in history. Extra and Ecopaís currently sit at $2.89/gallon; with the 5% monthly cap, they could reach $3.03. Diesel may hit $2.96. The driver: global oil price spikes from the Strait of Hormuz disruption.
President Noboa signed Decreto 353 on April 2, declaring a 60-day state of exception across nine provinces and four cantons. Warrantless searches are now legal in affected areas, though no curfew has been imposed. Expats in Pichincha, Guayas, Manabi, and other covered provinces should understand what rights have been suspended.
Ecuador's Interior Ministry reports a 28% decline in homicides for March 2026, alongside 4,300 arrests and 2,200 warrants executed. The numbers represent real progress, but the baseline is staggering: 2025 saw 9,216 homicides, making Ecuador one of the deadliest countries in Latin America.
Gunmen opened fire at a sports complex on Avenida 25 de Julio in southern Guayaquil, killing multiple people and wounding several others, including minors. The attack bears the hallmarks of gang violence and underscores why southern Guayaquil remains Ecuador's most dangerous urban zone.
The United States and Ecuador have finalized a reciprocal trade agreement that eliminates a 15% surcharge on $2.8 billion in non-oil Ecuadorian exports and opens Ecuador's agricultural market to US soybeans, dairy, beef, and poultry. Most-favored-nation treatment takes effect by August 2026.
Ecuador has slapped 50% tariffs on Colombian imports, threatened to cut electricity sales, and hiked pipeline transit fees by 900%. With $2.8 billion in bilateral trade at risk, Colombian products are getting more expensive and de-escalation talks are just beginning.
