National killings declined in early 2026, but violence intensified sharply around Machala, ports and the Peruvian border. Ecuador recorded fewer homicides during the first half of 2026, extending a national decline from the unprecedented levels reached a year earlier. But the improvement was uneven, with El Oro moving in the opposite direction and emerging as […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Nearly all Ecuadorian exports would gain tariff-free entry, but ratification could postpone implementation until 2027. Ecuadorian exporters are preparing for expanded access to one of the world’s wealthier consumer markets after Ecuador and Canada signed a free trade agreement intended to remove tariffs, establish investment protections and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries. Production, […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Higher crude prices are improving liquidity, reducing arrears and easing borrowing pressure while creating new budget risks. Ecuador’s government has collected nearly as much oil revenue during the first seven months of 2026 as it received throughout all of last year, providing an unexpected infusion of cash at a time when the country continues to […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

New import permits reopen Ecuador’s largest foreign rice market after months of disrupted border trade. Ecuadorian rice is beginning to move toward Colombia again after import permits were issued to Colombian buyers, reopening a vital overland market that had been effectively closed for nearly five months. The first permits were released late last week, allowing […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Relatives, municipal officials and political allies attended a crowded service while details of Zamora’s illness remained private. Dozens of people gathered at one of Cuenca’s best-known churches to pray for the recovery of suspended Mayor Cristian Zamora, whose health has reportedly deteriorated since returning from a trip outside Ecuador. The Mass was held Thursday, July […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.