Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Candidate registration closed Monday evening for Ecuador’s November sectional elections. The next phase is qualification and objections, with the definitive list expected November 9.
A 30-egg carton rose about 20% between July and August, with some markets above USD 4.50. Producers point to lower output, feed costs, and demand from Peru.
Ecuador’s competition regulator approved Davita’s acquisition of 100% of Cendialcon. The deal comes as the public system refers 88% of dialysis patients to private clinics and Cendialcon reports a USD 5.71 million receivables balance.
President Daniel Noboa arrived in China on August 16 for a state visit focused on trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, technology, and sustainable development. The agenda includes 14 Ecuadorian shrimp exporters suspended from the Chinese market and the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project.
More than 20 Ecuadorian companies joined a program on biodiversity finance, including firms from agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, circular economy, and ecotourism. The program covered credits, biodiversity bonds, and ESG reporting, building on Banco Bolivariano's prior USD 80 million blue bond and USD 120 million biodiversity bond.
Inamhi forecast isolated rain in all four Ecuadorian regions on August 17, with the strongest Sierra rain expected in the afternoon and evening in Tulcán, Ibarra, Quito, and Latacunga. UV levels range from moderate to very high nationwide.
BYD presented the Yuan Pro DM-i and Ti7 at the 2026 Auto Show in Guayaquil. The company says the Yuan Pro offers up to 100 kilometers of electric range and 1,100 kilometers combined, while the Ti7 offers 360 kW and 0-to-100 km/h acceleration in 5.3 seconds.
Ecuador now requires sampling and technical verification before processed mineralized material headed to China can be exported or commercially transferred. The measure covers gold and copper and arrives as China accounted for 94.73% of Ecuador’s copper-concentrate export volume in the first half of 2026.
More than 21,000 IESS affiliates accessed unemployment insurance from January through July 2026. The benefit is paid over five months, but the two available options trade higher monthly payments against the use of the individual severance balance.
Executive Decree 472 extends Ecuador’s state of exception for 30 days in 10 provinces and three cantons, including Azuay. The decree does not establish a curfew, but it keeps the previously specified suspension of home and correspondence inviolability in force.
A reform to Ecuador’s adoption process took effect on August 14 after publication in the Official Registry. It sets timelines for police investigation, technical reports, candidate suitability, matching, and civil-registry inscription.
The Council of the Judiciary has approved a three-phase method for appointing 222 temporary judges during the judicial emergency. The plan sets eligibility and scoring rules, but legal experts are still questioning how temporary appointments will protect independence and how long they will last.
