Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Trade between Ecuador and Peru reached USD 1.2267 billion in the first half of 2026, up 33.5% year over year. Exports, imports, Peruvian investment, and a sharp fall in purchases from Colombia are reshaping the cross-border commercial picture.
Villonaco III has received 30 of its 57 wind-turbine blades, moving Ecuador’s largest planned wind project into a visible equipment-delivery phase. The 112.1 MW project represents more than USD 200 million in private investment and targets commercial operation in the third quarter of 2027.
A resolution in force since August 20 allows electricity, water, phone, and other utility payments to be considered supplementary information in credit evaluation. It does not mean providers are automatically sending records to the credit bureau today.
Ecuador has recorded 28,652 dengue cases in 2026, with weekly reports above the same periods in 2025 since late May. Separate resistance data, measured through June 2025, shows high resistance to deltamethrin and a changing challenge for mosquito control.
At least 10 large shopping-center projects are in development in Ecuador, with estimated investment of USD 400 million and more than 750,000 square meters of additional leasable area under construction. The pipeline includes Mall del Alto in Cuenca and projects on the coast and near Quito.
Sercop suspended a procurement process to renew one Karpowership barge in southern Guayaquil. The proposed contract was worth USD 42.7 million and would have extended the service for six more months ahead of the dry season.
Lundin Gold says its Fruta del Norte plant in Zamora Chinchipe could move from an average 5,500 tonnes of material per day to 7,000 within a year, while targeting roughly 500,000 ounces of annual production.
The U.S. keeps Ecuador at Level 2 overall but recommends reconsidering travel to Manabi, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo, and Sucumbios, while naming several areas under a do-not-travel warning.
Warmer sea temperatures are changing fishing patterns on Ecuador's coast, with Ecuavisa reporting longer trips, scarcer fish, and higher albacore prices in Santa Elena. The effect is reaching municipal markets and household food costs.
A Constitutional Court ruling changed the legal framework for Uber, InDrive, and Didi drivers, but Ecuavisa reports continuing enforcement disputes in several cities. The report includes practical steps drivers can take during a traffic stop.
President Daniel Noboa and Singaporean officials signed a memorandum covering education, governance, digitalization, sustainability, public health, and trade and economy. The agreement is valid for two years and sits alongside a broader push for investment and market access.
President Daniel Noboa continued his China visit in Chengdu after Ecuador announced seven cooperation agreements and new commitments spanning energy, mining, infrastructure, trade, and technology. The package also includes USD 42.7 million in non-reimbursable Chinese cooperation and the rehabilitation of eight shrimp exporters.
