ABSTRACT

In 2002 agriculture accounted for 9.0% of Ecuador’s gross domestic product (GDP), industry for 20.7% and petroleum for 12.6%. Some 5.7% of the land is arable, 4.8% under permanent crops and 18.0% permanent pasture. The main crop is bananas, of which Ecuador is the world’s largest producer; cocoa and coffee are also grown for export, while rice, sugar cane, potatoes, maize, soya beans, wheat and barley are grown for local consumption. The main mineral resource is petroleum, proven reserves of which in 2002 were 3,990m. barrels. Gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc are also found, but not much exploited. The principal industries are textiles, food and drink, tobacco, petroleum refining and construction materials. Petroleum dominates the energy market. Main exports are crude petroleum and derivatives, bananas and shrimp. Principal imports are capital goods, especially for the oil industry. In 2002 the USA was the greatest purchaser of exports, followed by the Republic of Korea and Panama. The USA was the greatest supplier of imports, followed by Colombia, Venezuela and Chile.