Guayaquil economy grows as Ecuadorian firms face logistics challenges

Guayaquil has seen significant economic growth and poverty reduction between January and July 2026. Total sales in the city reached USD 42,396 million, a 10.1% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The local market recorded USD 35,529 million in sales, driven by commerce, manufacturing, professional activities, and real estate. This economic activity contributed USD 26,278 million to the city's Gross Value Added (GVA), representing 22.8% of Ecuador's total GVA. Consequently, income poverty decreased by 2.4 percentage points and multidimensional poverty fell by 2.9 points.

To support this growth, the national government has provided substantial funding to the municipality, including USD 899 million through the Territorial Equity Model and USD 75.8 million for transit competencies. Additionally, sovereign guarantees totaling USD 89 million were granted for urban infrastructure, sustainability, and water sanitation projects.

Separately, Ecuadorian companies face logistical challenges as they approach the end of the year. According to the National Logistics Survey of Ecuador, logistics costs average 17.9% of business sales, though this figure rises to 26.4% for small companies compared to 7.68% for large ones. Experts emphasize that businesses must shift from reactive to anticipatory models to ensure operational capacity for increased year-end demand and avoid bottlenecks in storage and delivery.