Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
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President Noboa's Decreto Ejecutivo 354 bridges Thursday April 30 to the May 1 national holiday, giving public and private sector workers four consecutive days off. Overtime is double pay. Here's what closes.
Pizza Hut Ecuador has new ownership. In a market where over 706,000 pizzas moved through PedidosYa in 2025 alone, the competitive landscape looks meaningfully different than it does in the U.S. Here's who's actually on the board.
Bilateral trade between Ecuador and Colombia fell 44% year-over-year in February 2026, the first month of the tariff war — to just $124.9 million. Ecuadorian imports from Colombia dropped 66%. Exports fell 20%. Pharma imports collapsed 34%, industrial chemicals 48%, and Rumichaca's transport hub has ground to a halt.
The Banco Central del Ecuador raised its 2026 GDP growth projection to 2.5%, up 0.7 points from its September forecast. Inflation is expected at 1.8%, private credit to grow 10%, and the external account to post a $6.4 billion surplus. 2025 closed at 3.7% growth — so momentum is slowing.
Los Ríos rice farmers are opening their winter harvest with no real buyers. The short version: an estimated 20% smaller crop, buyers paying $29/quintal against a $34 minimum support price, and 95,000 tons in losses to flooding and drought. The bottleneck is the Colombia trade war blocking last season's surplus from export.
The April 12 fuel price hike is already flowing through to family budgets on the coast. One south Guayaquil family reports their nephew's round-trip school transport jumped from $50 to $60 per month. The coastal school year just started — and the cost structure changed with it.
Ecuador's monthly fuel price adjustment takes effect April 12, raising prices on low-octane gasoline (Extra and Ecopais) and diesel. Super gasoline stays the same. The change pushes up transport costs and adds inflationary pressure to groceries and services.
President Noboa signed a decree suspending work on April 30, creating a 4-day weekend alongside May 1 (Labor Day). Banks, government offices, and many businesses will close April 30 through May 3. Expect heavy domestic travel, booked hotels, and coastal congestion.
Police in Guayaquil dismantled a massive phone theft operation involving 25,000 stolen devices valued at over $3 million. Authorities recovered approximately 30% of the phones through device tracking. The scale reveals how organized phone theft has become -- and why basic security practices matter for every resident.
Ecuador's SRI issued a circular on March 26 reclassifying over 60 processed food products from 0% to 15% IVA. Lactose-free milk, all bread and pastries, instant noodles, and pre-cooked meats are now taxed. Fresh natural milk and raw unprocessed foods remain at 0%. The change directly impacts grocery costs for residents.
Gasoline and diesel prices in Ecuador are expected to increase approximately 5% when the monthly band adjustment takes effect on April 12. Extra and ecopais gasoline currently at $2.89/gallon and diesel premium at $2.82/gallon are being pushed higher by WTI crude above $100/barrel.
Ecuador and Colombia have imposed 50% tariffs on each other's imports in an escalating trade war that puts $2.8 billion in bilateral trade at risk. Colombia has also suspended electricity exports and raised pipeline fees by 900%.
