Market research

Pepper market in Ecuador

Release date: Mar 28, 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

Between 2018 and 2023, Ecuador's domestic pepper market volume surged from 379 tons to 4 558 tons. This dramatic expansion was primarily driven by a collapse in exports, which began in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global trade flows and logistics. The pandemic's impact on Ecuador's economy and labor market indirectly reduced pepper shipments abroad, making more product available domestically.

Post-pandemic recovery measures, including mass vaccination, helped lower unemployment and stabilize agricultural production in 2021-2022. However, exports continued to decline, falling to 1 405 tons in 2022. During this period, the local company TrueFlavor invested in machinery and workforce upgrades to boost black pepper production and target new export markets, indicating private-sector efforts to revitalize the industry.

By 2023, export volumes plummeted to just 20 tons, causing the domestic market volume to peak at 4 558 tons. Production remained relatively stable around 4 575 tons, reflecting a sustained shift from export-oriented sales to domestic availability.

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, 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, 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, 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 pepper in Ecuador

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Ecuador ranked as the 14th largest pepper producer in the world.

Top producers of pepper, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of pepper, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Ecuador's pepper production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 4 533 tonnes of pepper, down 1.4% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 5.4%, averaging an annual growth rate of 1.8%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 4 700 tonnes, which saw the largest increase of 9.3%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest decline of 2.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.3%	(2.1%)	(1.4%)	1.8%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Ecuador's pepper production value declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, pepper output was valued at 9 506 thousand US dollars, an 11.7% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value fell by 37.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -14.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Ecuador in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(18.3%)	(13.2%)	(11.7%)	(14.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports pepper from Ecuador

Exports in kind, t

Ecuador's pepper exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 3 050 tonnes, marking a sharp drop of 30.2% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 23.8%, averaging an annual decline of 8.6%. The peak export volume was recorded in 2018 at 4 456 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 11.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.4%	(1.9%)	(30.2%)	(8.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, India, and the Netherlands formed the core markets for Ecuador's pepper exports in volume terms. The United States accounted for 38.0% of exports, India for 21.4%, and the Netherlands for 10.6%, together representing 70.0% of total export 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

Ecuador's pepper export value declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at 6 395 thousand US dollars, a steep decline of 37.5% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value fell by 54.7%, with an average annual decrease of 23.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.8%)	(13.0%)	(37.5%)	(23.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the United States, India, and the Netherlands were the main markets for Ecuador's pepper exports in value terms. The United States accounted for 37.9% of export value, India for 19.7%, and the Netherlands for 11.6%, together making up 69.3% of total export 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 pepper to Ecuador

Imports in kind, t

Ecuador's pepper imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 194 tonnes, a significant rise of 26.7% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 78.9%, averaging an annual increase of 21.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	24.8%	13.2%	26.7%	21.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Mexico dominated Ecuador's pepper imports in volume terms, accounting for 92.0% of total import flows.

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

Ecuador's pepper import value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 635 thousand US dollars, a strong uptick of 24.9% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value rose by 89%, with a compound annual growth rate of 23.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	20.7%	25.2%	24.9%	23.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Mexico was the dominant source for Ecuador's pepper imports in value terms, accounting for 80.2% of total import flows, while other countries contributed relatively small shares.

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