Market research

Beef and buffalo meat market in Ecuador

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The beef and buffalo meat market in Ecuador opened the period at 289.9 thous. t in 2018 but entered a multi-year decline, falling to 237.4 thous. t by 2020. During these years, consumer preferences continued to emphasize fresh meat in traditional markets, with a parallel growth in interest for specialized, vacuum-packed cuts, particularly in urban centers.

A marked shift in protein consumption away from beef toward pork, driven by a strengthening middle class and stable input costs for pork producers, was a key factor in the market's contraction to 191.6 thous. t in 2021. This trend reversed in 2022 as the market rebounded to 243.0 thous. t, largely due to the expansion and consolidation of domestic buffalo meat production, which gained traction for its lower production costs, faster animal maturity, and favorable nutritional profile.

The recovery continued into 2023, with the total market volume rising further to 253.5 thous. t, reflecting the sustained growth of production within the category.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Ecuador
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Ecuador in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Ecuador in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ecuador in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ecuador in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ecuador, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ecuador in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ecuador in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ecuador, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ecuador in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ecuador in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ecuador, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ecuador in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ecuador in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ecuador, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ecuador by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production beef and buffalo meat in Ecuador

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Ecuador's beef and buffalo meat production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 237.0 thousand tonnes, marking a 14.0% year-on-year contraction. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 23.4%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 8.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Ecuador in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.3%)	(4.9%)	(14.0%)	(8.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Ecuador

Exports in kind, t

In 2018, Ecuador's cross-border shipments of beef and buffalo meat reached 0.5 tonnes, showing a steep gain of 92.3% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ecuador in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	92.3%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ecuador's beef and buffalo meat exports were heavily concentrated, with Vietnam and Hong Kong accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Ecuador in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2018, Ecuador's beef and buffalo meat exports totaled 1 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp uptick of 233.3% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ecuador in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	233.3%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Vietnam and Hong Kong clearly led the country ranking for exports in value terms, with their combined share reaching 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Ecuador in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Ecuador

Imports in kind, t

Beef and buffalo meat imports into Ecuador have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports were recorded at 377.6 tonnes, amounting to a steep improvement of 81.6% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 356.1%, equating to an annualized rate of 65.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ecuador in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	60.6%	56.4%	81.6%	65.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ecuador's beef and buffalo meat imports were largely oriented towards the United States and Uruguay, whose combined share reached 92.8% of total flows, while other destinations played a secondary role.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Ecuador in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of beef and buffalo meat imports into Ecuador has risen for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports stood at 3 645 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp uptick of 62.9% compared with 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 368.5%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 67.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ecuador in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	80.9%	58.9%	62.9%	67.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States and Uruguay dominated Ecuador's imports in value terms, accounting together for 91.7% of total flows, with other destinations making smaller individual contributions.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Ecuador in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io