Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Results for “debt”Clear
Primicias reports that Ecuador's overdue financial-system portfolio managed by collection firms has risen from about $1.6 billion before Covid-19 to about $2.5 billion today, according to Asocob.
El Comercio reports that dialysis patients are traveling to other cities or paying out of pocket because the MSP owes two years of services to private dialysis centers. The report says many patients do not reach the 12 monthly sessions they require.
The May 6 placement of $1 billion in bonds drew $7 billion in demand from 200 international investors. Country risk is at its lowest since 2014. Here's what it means for the economy.
International investors put up $7 billion in orders for $1 billion in Ecuadorian sovereign bonds. The yield improved, the country risk hit an 11-year low, and the government says it proves confidence is back.
Without Colombian electricity and an unreliable Coca Codo Sinclair plant, Ecuador's grid operator projects rolling blackout risk during the October-March dry season. The government is scrambling to rent diesel generators.
Prosecutors raided CNEL offices across three provinces after the Energy Minister revealed a decade-long billing manipulation scheme affecting 400,000+ accounts. Officials allegedly cut invoices by 80% in exchange for bribes.
Ecuador's riesgo país fell to 404 points on April 22, the lowest since 2015. GDP grew 3.7% in 2025, international reserves jumped 42%, and the IMF just disbursed another $394 million. Here's what the improving trajectory means for expats.
Ecuador's EMBI country risk indicator closed at 409 points on April 17 — the lowest level since October 2014. The reading reflects higher oil prices, an IMF $400M disbursement, and a growth forecast upgraded from 1.8% to 2.5% for 2026. Here's what it means for cost of living and investment.
President Noboa presented Q1 2026 economic results in a national broadcast. Sales hit $63.2 billion (vs $57.7B Q1 2025). Country risk dropped from 1,908 bps a year ago to 416 today. Public investment jumped from $42M to $533M YoY. Here's what the government is claiming and what to actually take from it.
Ecuador returned to international capital markets in January 2026 for the first time since its 2020 debt restructuring, selling $4 billion in sovereign bonds across two tranches. The move included a $3 billion debt buy-back and sent country risk plummeting from over 2,000 points to 460.
Banco Bolivariano issued Latin America's largest biodiversity bond at $120 million, backed by IDB Invest ($50M), IFC ($50M), and FMO ($20M). The 5-year bond funds sustainable agriculture, freshwater and marine ecosystem protection, waste management, forestry, and ecotourism.
The World Bank forecasts Ecuador's economy will grow just 2% in 2026, among the lowest rates in Latin America. A fiscal deficit of 3-4% of GDP, expiring security contributions, weakening oil receipts, and likely tax reform paint a challenging picture.
