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.

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.

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

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

Ecuador extended its tariff exemption for soybean meal and wheat imports from all origins for five years, effective January 1, 2020.

As Ecuador’s economy stabilizes and becomes more open to trade, wheat consumption is expected to trend upward.

As Ecuador’s economy recovers and domestic corn prices remain high, consumption of wheat and rice increased in 2017/18.

On December 23, 2016, Ecuador’s Foreign Trade Committee passed the extension of the current tariff and duty exemption for wheat imports from all origins (including the United States).

Since the United States entered into the CAFTA-DR trade agreement, U.S. agricultural exports to the six CAFTA-DR countries have more than doubled.

Ecuador’s wheat production in marketing year (MY) 2016/17 (July-June) is forecast to reach 4,000 metric tons (MT), down about 1,000 MT from the MY 2015/16 estimate.