The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Ecuador’s import purchases during 2020. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Ecuador.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$2.8 billion (15.8% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $2.1 billion (11.6%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.5 billion (8.5%)
4. Vehicles: $1.3 billion (7.3%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $1.1 billion (5.9%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $852.6 million (4.8%)
7. Food industry waste, animal fodder: $793.3 million (4.5%)
8. Other chemical goods: $509.6 million (2.9%)
9. Iron, steel: $495.6 million (2.8%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $432.9 million (2.4%)

Ecuador’s top 10 imports accounted for roughly two-thirds (66.5%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Pharmaceuticals (up 8.8%) increased in terms of money spent on Ecuadorian import purchases from 2019 to 2020. The only other top product category to appreciate was miscellaneous chemical goods via a 2.8% gain.

Leading the decliners year over year were imported vehicles (down -39.5%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -35.7%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the adjacent virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

In 2020, Ecuadorian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$1.5 billion (down -36.4% from 2019)
2. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $946.4 million (down -42.1%)
3. Petroleum gases: $359.6 million (down -6.7%)
4. Petroleum oil residues: $14.8 million (down -35.1%)
5. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $9.1 million (down -10%)
6. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $4.1 million (up 127.1%)
7. Peat: $2.8 million (up 13.5%)
8. Crude oil: $2 million (up 100.9%)
9. Coke, semi-coke: $187,000 (up 17.6%)
10. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $137,000 (down -76.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Ecuadorian purchases of coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 127.1%), crude oil (up 100.9%) then coke or semi-coke (up 17.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels-related products among Ecuadorian businesses and consumers.

In 2020, Ecuadorian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$323.4 million (up 35.8% from 2019)
2. Refrigerators, freezers: $110.6 million (down -18.7%)
3. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $104.1 million (down -26.2%)
4. Printing machinery: $100.9 million (down -19.9%)
5. Liquid pumps and elevators: $95.9 million (down -32.8%)
6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $71.1 million (down -15.2%)
7. Piston engine parts: $68.2 million (down -20.5%)
8. Air or vacuum pumps: $66.8 million (down -18.9%)
9. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $65.3 million (down -31.1%)
10. Miscellaneous machinery: $60.2 million (down -43.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Ecuadorian purchases of computers including optical readers was the sole gainer via a 35.8% expansion from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Ecuadorian businesses and consumers.

In 2020, Ecuadorian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics.

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$565.9 million (up 4.2% from 2019)
2. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $144.7 million (down -22.3%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $110.7 million (down -28%)
4. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $71.9 million (down -21.8%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $55.5 million (down -26.2%)
6. Unrecorded sound media: $54.7 million (down -14.4%)
7. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $41.8 million (down -37.2%)
8. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $38.8 million (down -15.2%)
9. Microphones/headphones/amplifiers: $34.9 million (down -33.1%)
10. High-voltage switches, fuses: $32.3 million (up 10.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Ecuadorian purchases of high-voltage switches or fuses (up 10.5%) and phone system devices including smartphones (up 4.2%) grew from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Ecuadorian businesses and consumers.

In 2020, Ecuadorian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$546.6 million (down -46% from 2019)
2. Trucks: $311 million (down -29.7%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $160.9 million (down -35.3%)
4. Motorcycles: $104.7 million (down -9%)
5. Tractors: $66.9 million (down -32.3%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $30.6 million (down -69%)
7. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $26.7 million (up 8.5%)
8. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $18.2 million (up 68.4%)
9. Chassis fitted with engine: $13.8 million (down -79%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $10.3 million (down -37.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Ecuadorian purchases of bicycles plus other non-motorized cycles (up 68.4%) and motorcycle parts or accessories (up 8.5%) grew from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Ecuadorian businesses and consumers.