Ecuador: Navigating The Market

Posted by Matt Hopkins|18 December 2008

Part of South America’s Andean region, Ecuador’s 2007/08 ag chemical market was worth US $180-220 million. The Andean Community of Nations (CAN), which includes Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Boliva, comprise a free trade zone with a common tariff system and common legislation on health, labor, and investment. CAN’s 2007/08 agrochemical market value was US $775-$930 million. The countries of the Andean region (CAN nations plus Venezuela) have a total 6,276 product registrations between them, with Ecuador possessing the most at 1,754 registrations.

The country’s major crops are rice, with 250,000 hectares (Ha) planted, corn, 250,000 Ha, and African palm, 210,000 Ha. Bananas (180,000 Ha), coffee (151,000 Ha), and sugarcane (125,000 Ha) are also big, while crops such as plantains, potatoes, cocoa, and soybeans are grown on a total of nearly another 200,000 Ha. Between 2007 and 2011, the country plans to increase individual area for these crops by between 50,000 and 110,000 Ha each.

The agrochemical market is varied and deep; however, fertilizer imports in Ecuador haven’t kept up with demand. In 2007, phosphorus ran about a 43,000 metric ton deficit on the 126,000 metric tons it needed. Only 128,000 metric tons of potash were imported, short of the 390,000 metric tons needed. Nitrogen was the best filled niche, falling short of its demand for 300,000 metric tons by only 39,000 metric tons.