Potato market in Ecuador

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh or chilled potatoes in Ecuador exhibited significant swings from 2018 to 2023. Starting at 268 900 tonnes in 2018, it grew modestly to 275 000 tonnes in 2019 before surging to 407 700 tonnes in 2020. A sharp contraction followed in 2021, bringing the market to 245 000 tonnes, with a subsequent recovery to 251 600 tonnes in 2022 and 262 200 tonnes in 2023.

Throughout the period, potato production faced recurrent challenges from adverse weather conditions and pest pressures, factors noted in reports for 2018, 2019, and 2020 that typically constrain supply. The market's peak in 2020 coincided with these reported constraints, while the decline in 2021 aligned with their continued presence. The recovery in 2022 and 2023 proceeded without specific disruptive events reported in the sources.

For 2024, identified factors include frost and drought in Tungurahua province causing supply shortages, alongside growing demand from the food service sector and increasing consumer preference for convenient potato products such as fries and frozen items, indicating evolving market conditions.

Production potato in Ecuador

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of potato, 2017-2020

World map of production of potato, 2017-2020

Potato production in Ecuador increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Ecuador produced 408.3 thousand tonnes of potatoes, representing a 48.3% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 8.2%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 2.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 269.2 thousand tonnes, marking the largest decline of 28.6% during this period.

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

Exports potato from Ecuador

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility over these years. The minimum export volume was recorded in 2018 at 308.6 tonnes, which represented a 16.9% decline. In 2020, Ecuador's potato exports surged to 566.0 tonnes, showing a sharp increase of 75.3% from the previous year. The difference between the maximum in 2020 and the minimum in 2018 was 1.8-fold.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States effectively monopolized Ecuador's potato exports in kind, accounting for 99.2% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Ecuador's potato export value increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 506.1 thousand US dollars, up by 19.9% from the prior year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 37.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 329.3 thousand US dollars, representing a 10.5% decline. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 28.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, 98.8% of Ecuador's potato export value was directed to the United States, making this market overwhelmingly dominant.

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

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

Imports potato to Ecuador

Imports in kind, t

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

Between 2017 and 2020, virtually all potato imports in kind to Ecuador were associated with Colombia, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

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

From 2017 to 2020, imports in value terms of potatoes to Ecuador were almost entirely concentrated in Colombia, with a share reaching 100.0%.

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

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