Large barrel of fresh shrimp for sale by the pound on the beach in Bahia de Caraquez in Ecuador.
Adobe Stock
In 2025, Ecuador recorded a historic high in non-oil exports, reaching USD 29.402 billion, representing an 18.3% increase compared to the previous year, driven by shrimp and canned fish exports.
Shrimp was the top exported product, generating up to USD 8.401 billion, a 20.2% increase compared to 2024. In fourth place were canned fish exports, which amounted to USD 1.848 billion, up 10.3%. In addition, the main destinations for non-oil exports were the European Union, the United States, China, Russia, and Colombia.
This represents the highest level ever recorded in the country for this sector. The South American country attributes this growth to the positive impact of productive diversification, market expansion, and the strengthening of export supply chains.
"From the National Government, through the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, and Investments, policies will continue to be promoted aimed at strengthening competitiveness, facilitating access to new markets, and consolidating Ecuador as a reliable and competitive supplier on a global scale," reads a statement.
In contrast, looking ahead to next year, organizations such as Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) have warned that the competitiveness of the Ecuadorian shrimp industry could be undermined due to a recent regulation established by the government.
Starting January 1, any individual or legal entity that uses sodium metabisulfite—a key substance in the shrimp industry, where it is used as a preservative—in Ecuador must have a mandatory qualification.
The Ecuadorian shrimp industry believes that the new procedures, resulting from the new regulations on substances, will have a significant impact on the costs of its value chain.
