Browse Data and Analysis

Wheat production in marketing year (MY) 2025/26 (July-June) is projected at just over 10,000 metric tons (MT), a decline from the previous year. With only about 5,000 hectares (HA) dedicated to cultivation, Ecuador’s wheat production is insufficient to meet domestic demand and thus dependent on imports.

For marketing year (MY) 2025/26, Post estimates that the wheat area harvested will total 193,000 hectares (ha), representing a 1.0 percent decrease from MY 2024/25 due to high input costs and low prices.

In 2023, the Government of Ecuador continued to support floor prices for local production of corn, rice, and wheat, but has reduced subsidies for fertilizers, pesticides, and minor equipment for small producers.

For MY 2024/25, Post estimates that wheat area harvested will total 195,000 hectares (ha), a 2.5 percent decrease from MY 2023/24 to due to high input costs and low prices. Wheat production will reach 1.17 million metric tons (MMT).

In marketing year (MY) 2023/24, Post forecasts wheat area harvested will reach 215,000 hectares (ha) and production will total 1.32 million metric tons (MMT), unchanged from MY 2022/23 as production was limited by the high costs of inputs.

In 2022, the Government of Ecuador continued to support floor prices for local production of corn, rice, and wheat as well as began subsidizing the price of fertilizers for small producers.

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.

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

For marketing year (MY) 2021/22, Post forecasts 230,000 hectares (ha) of wheat planted area totaling 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat production, which represents a 2.56 percent increase over MY2020/21 due to high price expectations.

For marketing year (MY) 2020/21, Post projects 205,000 hectares of wheat planted area and 1.288 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat production which represents a 2.4 percent decrease over MY2019/20.

Uncertainty of government corn policies and price support mechanisms contributed to decreased production with farmers retiring or shifting to more profitable crops.

Post estimates Chilean wheat production in MY2018/19 to reach 1.51 MMT (million metric tons) considering a 3 percent increase in harvested area due to producers’ expectations of high prices.