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The food processing industry is an important component of Ecuador’s manufacturing sector. In 2020, the sector contributed $6.5 billion to Ecuador’s gross domestic product and grossed $11 billion in net sales. Excellent sales prospects exist for U.S. food ingredient products to supply this industry.

The Government of Ecuador continues defining the yearly minimum price for local production of corn, rice, and wheat. The Minister of Agriculture supports the reduction of corn area and the shift to other crops that are mainly focused on the export market.

Despite economic constraints and the continued COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. - Ecuador bilateral agricultural trade in 2021 rose to $3.8 billion. In addition, U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $587 million.

This report serves as a road map for U.S. companies exporting to Ecuador. While Ecuador is a challenging market for U.S. food and agricultural products, it is also one of opportunities. Domestic production cannot meet consumer demand, necessitating continued imports.

This report identifies Ecuador’s import requirements for foreign export certificates, highlighting current procedures and identifying the relevant local agencies with oversight over these issues.

This report outlines Ecuador’s requirements for food and agricultural product imports. It is a guide on the regulations that exporters need to consider in order to enter their products into the Ecuadorian market.

The legal and regulatory situation to allow the planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops in Ecuador remains the same as 2020. Commercial cultivation of GE crops is not permitted, however cultivation for research is allowed and an exception exists for GE products without recombinant or foreign DNA in the genome.

Ecuador: Ecuadorian Government Lowers Tariffs for 43 Agricultural Products On July 9th, 2021, Ecuador’s Foreign Trade Committee issued Resolution No. 009 – 2021, lowering tariffs on 667 products, including 43 agricultural products. This resolution will come into effect on October 1st, 2021 and will be permanent.

Coffee production for marketing year (MY) 2021/22 (April to March) is forecast at 261,000 60-kilogram (kg) bags of Green Bean Equivalent (GBE) basis, an increase of two percent over the MY 2020/2021 estimate of 255,000 60-kg bags.

As Ecuador's sugar supply and demand find an equilibrium, ethanol production and a possible increase in the ethanol blend rate could help to absorb some excess sugar supply.

The Government of Ecuador has fully eliminated the support program for corn production, but continues to define the yearly minimum price for producers

Bangladesh’s feed industry is currently recovering from a difficult marketing year (MY) 2019/20 (i.e., July to June).