Wood charcoal market in Ecuador

Earlier Report Observations

Production of wood charcoal in Ecuador rose from 85.7 thousand tons in 2018 to 105 thousand tons in 2019, driven primarily by the entry of industrial producer CARBONQUIL S.A., which began operations with advanced technology, increasing overall output. This period also saw the implementation of the Organic Environmental Code (COA), establishing a regulatory framework for sustainable resource management, which helped stabilize production at 105 thousand tons through 2020.

After a modest increase to 111.9 thousand tons in 2021, the market volume fell to 102.7 thousand tons in 2022, partly due to enforcement actions that seized illegal charcoal, reducing unauthorized supply. A sharp contraction to 48.9 thousand tons followed in 2023 as authorities introduced regulations for voluntary carbon markets and reformed the Environmental Code to incorporate carbon trading mechanisms, tightening controls over production activities.

Production wood charcoal in Ecuador

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

In 2020, Ecuador produced 105.0 K t of wood charcoal, showing minimal change from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 22.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 105.0 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 0.0% change, while the most significant increase was in 2019, at 22.4%.

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

Exports wood charcoal from Ecuador

Exports in kind, t

Wood charcoal exports from Ecuador declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 12 t, which is 14.3% lower than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 99%, equating to an annualized decline of 78.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Mexico played a dominant role in Ecuador's wood charcoal exports, consistently accounting for 96.7% 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

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. A 77-fold variation was observed between the peak in 2017 and the low in 2020. In 2020, Ecuador exported 4.5 K $ US of wood charcoal, indicating an abrupt decrease of 55.4% compared to the prior year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 98.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 92.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner base for exports in value terms was extremely narrow, with Mexico alone responsible for 93.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wood charcoal to Ecuador

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2019, with an 11.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, wood charcoal volumes imported by Ecuador stood at 23 t, reflecting a steep gain of 577.1% year-over-year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 3 t, and the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 77.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Peru (48.4% of imports in kind), Colombia (24.4% of imports in kind), and China (12.4% of imports in kind) continued to lead as the main suppliers of wood charcoal to Ecuador, jointly accounting for 85.2% of total imports in kind.

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

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. The highest import value was reached in 2017, with the lowest in 2019, reflecting a 4.8-fold gap. In 2020, Ecuador's volume of wood charcoal imports was recorded at 44.0 K $ US, which is 264.6% stronger compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 12.1 K $ US, and the largest decline occurred in 2019 at 60.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Peru (29.9% of imports in value terms), China (24.7% of imports in value terms), and Colombia (18.9% of imports in value terms) were the largest suppliers of wood charcoal to Ecuador, together forming 73.5% of total imports in value terms.

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

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