He the first two months of 2023, the total trade balance of Ecuador (measuring the sale of oil and oil in relation to the purchase of oil and oil) recorded a favorable balance of 267 million dollars, which is the result of a trade surplus of $163 million in the oil balance and a surplus of $103 million in the non-oil balance. This was reported by the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE).
The numbers reflect that, though still positive values are maintained, The oil balance has deteriorated considerably, while the non-oil balance is recovering. As for the oil company, the figure is down compared to the same period of the year 2022, in which a positive balance of 666 million dollars was recorded. As for the non-oil sector, a deficit (-$62 million) was recorded in the first two months of 2022.
Oil exports fell by 20% compared to the previous year, while imports rose by 18%. In addition, non-oil exports rose by 2%, but imports fell by 3%.
As for the non-oil balance, Federation of Exporters of Ecuador (Fedexpor), which measures the behavior of non-oil and non-mining exports, reported that Shrimp is the main export product, whose dollar value increased by 2% in the first two months of 2023. Exports of bananas and plantains increased their export value by 10%. On the contrary, products such as canned fish and cocoa and its preparations decreased the value of exports by -9% and -15%, respectively. In exported value, this item reached 3.027 million dollars and represented 62% of total exports. The main export of the country behaved as follows:
1. In aquaculture products 1.422 million dollars (-2%)
1.1) Shrimp $1.163 million (2%)
1.2) Canned fish $187 million (-9%)
1.3) Tuna and fish 61 million dollars (-26%)
2. In agribusiness products 1.305 million (7%)
2.1) Banana 709 million dollars (10%)
2.2) Flowers $199 million (1%)
2.3) Cocoa $116 million (-15%)
3. In the production of products, 300 million dollars (-7%)
3.1) Wood and production USD 85 million (-3%)
3.2) Production of leather, plastic and rubber USD 29 million (-22%)
3.3) Ceramic products USD 7 million (6%)
Meanwhile, non-oil imports fell by 3%, mainly due to a 14% decrease in raw material imports, while, on the contrary, capital and consumer goods recorded an increase between January and February 2023.
From mid-March to mid-April, the currencies of the countries of the region (Colombia, Peru and Chile) strengthened against the dollar by an average of 2.8%. On the contrary, the currencies of the main export destinations outside America (China, the European Union, Russia) depreciated by an average of 1.7%, solely due to the weakness of the Russian ruble in the last month.
Source: Eluniverso

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