ECUADOR'S MAIN EXPORT PRODUCTS - ECONOMY - 2025

The main export products of the Ecuador represent 20.4% of total economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP), according to calculations by the "World Factbook" of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Ecuador is an economy that has not yet taken advantage of its rich resources to have an international business success story. It is the 70th largest export economy in the world.

Source: pxhere.com

The total value of Ecuadorian exports fell 23.4%, from $ 25 billion in 2013 to $ 19.1 billion in 2017, but it exported 13.8% more than in 2016.

The main export destinations are the United States ($ 5.67 billion), Vietnam ($ 1.12 billion), Peru ($ 1.02 billion), Chile ($ 988 million) and Russia ($ 832 million).

From a continental perspective, 32.8% of Ecuadorian exports are delivered to North America, while 26.2% are sold to Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, it exports 21.7% to European clients and 16.9% goes to Asia. A small percentage (0.2%) of Ecuadorian exports reach Africa.

Given the Ecuadorian population of 16.3 million people, the $ 19.1 billion in 2017 of exported products therefore translates into approximately $ 1,200 for each resident.

List of products

The following groups of export products represent the highest dollar value in Ecuadorian global exports during the year 2017.

The percentage of participation that each export category represents in terms of Ecuador's total exports is also shown.

Ecuador's top 10 exports represent 90% of the total value of its global shipments, as shown below.

Mineral fuels

In 2017 this category had the second place of growth in export sales, increasing 25.8% compared to the previous year. This increase was led by exports of crude and refined oil.

A total of $ 6.9 billion was exported, which represents 36.2% of the country's total exports.

The main export products in this category are crude oil, with a sale of $ 6.2 billion and a growth of 22.5%. In addition, refined oil had a sale of $ 722.2 million and a growth of 89.7%.

Fish

Ecuador's fish exports registered the third increase in sales in value, with a 16.1% increase.

Total export sales was $ 3.3 billion. This represents 17.2% of all the nation's exports.

The main export product in this category is crustaceans, including mainly shrimp and lobsters, with a sale of $ 3 billion, increasing sales by 17.8%.

On the other hand, fish fillets or pieces had a sale of $ 94.3 million, and a growth of 3.1%.

Whole fish had a sale of $ 83.3 million, but with a negative growth of -5.7%.

Fruits

The fourth growth in the country's export sales was in fruits, with 10.9% compared to the previous year.

Total export sales was $ 3.2 billion, which corresponds to 16.7% of total exports.

The main export products in this category are bananas and bananas, with sales of $ 3 billion, with sales growing by 11.1%.

On the other hand, preserved miscellaneous fruits had export sales of $ 120.5 million, with a decrease in growth of -3.4%.

The fruit group made up of dates, figs, pineapples, mangoes, avocados and guavas had export sales of $ 80.3 million, with a growth of 7.9%.

Prepared marine products

Prepared seafood products were the fastest growing among the top ten export categories, with a 28.6% increase in value from 2016 to 2017.

Total export sales was $ 1.2 billion, which means 6.1% of Ecuador's total exports.

The main export products in this category are fish and caviar, both preserved and prepared, with sales of $ 1.1 billion, with a growth of 29%.

Plants and cut flowers

The fifth growth in export sales corresponds to this category of plants and cut flowers, with a 10.4% increase.

The total export sale was $ 890.5 million, representing 4.7% of all the country's exports.

The main export product in this category is fresh or dried flowers, for bouquets or decorations, with sales of $ 881.5 million, in addition to a 9.8% growth over the previous year.

Cocoa products

Total export sales were $ 689 million, representing 3.6% of total exports.

The main export product is cocoa beans, with a total sale of $ 589.8 million, but its growth decreasing -5.2%.

Wood

A total of $ 344.1 million was exported, being 1.8% of the country's total export sales.

The main export product is boards and other woody materials, with a total sale of $ 97.2 million. In addition, it had a positive growth of 7.2%.

There is also lumber, with a total sale of $ 91.2 million. It also had a negative growth in 2017 of -25.4%.

Animal fats and vegetable oils

Total export sales corresponded to $ 295 million, representing 1.5% of exports.

The main export product is palm oil. The total sale was $ 208.3 million, but with a decrease in its growth of -8.7%.

Prepared vegetables and fruits

The total export sales of this category was $ 231.3 million, corresponding to 1.2% of annual exports.

The main export product is frozen vegetables. The total sale was $ 114.5 million, and also with a growth of 17.7%.

On the other hand, concentrated coffee and tea extracts had export sales of $ 101.9 million. The decrease in its growth was -21.3%.

Waste from the food industry, animal feed

Leading the declining exports are waste from the food and animal feed industries. Its decrease was -21.1% compared to the previous year.

Total export sales correspond to $ 183.4 million, being only 1% of all exports.

The main export product is inedible meat meal. The total sale was $ 120.5 million, and a decrease in its growth of -23.6%.

Precious metals

Total export sales correspond to $ 167.6 million, being only 0.9% of all exports.

The main export product is raw gold. The decrease in the growth of this product is -36%.

References

1. WTEx (2018). Ecuador's Top 10 Exports. Taken from: worldstopexports.com.
2. OEC (2018). Ecuador. Taken from: atlas.media.mit.edu.
3. WTEx (2018). 20 Most Valuable Ecuadorian Export Products. Taken from: worldstopexports.com.
4. Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019). Ecuador Trade. Taken from: britannica.com.
5. Official Ecuador Website (2019). Import / Export and Trade in Ecuador. Taken from: ecuador.com.