Ecuador

The overall consumer payments value performance will remain weak in 2021, after a challenging 2020, with Coronavirus (COVID-19) limiting spending opportunities and also having a major impact on local economies in the region. While the pandemic helped…

With turnover of USD594.0 billion, Latin America ranked fourth globally in terms of food, beverages and tobacco production in 2020. Following a contraction in 2020 due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 shock, the industry is set to return to…

In 2020, Latin America ranked fourth globally in terms of production output of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, with a turnover of USD107 billion. Following a contraction in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is set to return to…

Private consumption is anticipated to witness slower growth over 2019-2030. Although a new economic plan is set to address high inequality and support middle class expansion, limited disposable wage growth and cuts in fuel subsidies are expected to…

Wound care will see its current value growth decelerate in 2021 as consumers have played less sport, visited the gym less, and not had the chance to compete in long-distance races. This has led to fewer accidents outside the home and therefore fewer…

Supplement nutrition drinks has experienced significant growth during the pandemic and will be the fastest growing category in 2021. This has been mainly because a large proportion of adults who have contracted COVID-19 have been recommended by…

Vitamin C will be one of the big winners in the pandemic, thanks to its association with immune-boosting characteristics. During the first months of the pandemic in 2020, consumers stockpiled the products leaving most retailers out of stock. This was…

The lockdown and social distancing measures put in place by the Ecuadorian government included the forced closure of establishments considered as non-essential for several months. Sports clubs, parks, and gyms were included on this list, negatively…

Paediatric vitamins and dietary supplements will remain by far the largest category within paediatric consumer health, as parents want to support their children’s growth and development and protect them from COVID-19. However, the category has had…

Herbal/traditional products continue to benefit from a high level of consumer acceptance, as many Ecuadorians perceive them as safer and less likely to have harmful side-effects than standard OTC products. Many of these products offer a holistic…

Greater demand for digestive remedies was seen at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador when panic-buying of many products was seen. Consumers mostly stockpiled products such as diarrhoeal remedies and indigestion and heartburn remedies.…

During the pandemic, Ecuadorians increased their purchases of dietary supplements as many believe the consumption of such products will help increase their immunity to protect them from COVID-19. The categories most positively affected by this trend…

Pandemic restrictions in Ecuador have led to less socialisation and less person-to-person contact. Overall, this had been bad news for dermatologicals which, even though it will see an increase in current value sales in 2021, will see lower sales…

The extra measures people are undertaking to avoid getting COVID-19 in 2021 are also aiding prevention of common coughs and colds. Many diseases that are spread by social closeness, such as coughs and flu, have largely disappeared during the pandemic…

The pandemic continues to have a very strong impact on the Ecuadorian population in 2021. From 23 April to 19 May, rules were imposed that limited the circulation of people between the hours of 20:00hrs and 05:00hrs on weekdays. In addition, a total…

The fastest growing categories during the pandemic have been acetaminophen and aspirin, both of which saw very strong double-digit growth in 2020. In 2021, despite aspirin seeing only small growth and acetaminophen a small decline, both will retain…

Ecuador holds sufficient renewable water reserves, plentiful rainforests and a rich biodiversity. The country manages to maintain low CO2 emissions, thanks to rapidly expanding renewable energy generation capacities. Nonetheless, Ecuador struggles to…

Consumer health awareness continues to rise in the wake of the pandemic. This is helping lift sales of yoghurt products (there are currently no sour milk products in Ecuador), and in particular those whose positioning revolves around gut health and…

Other dairy benefited considerably from lockdown in 2020. With more time spent at home, consumers had more time to prepare food and desserts at home, which helped lift sales of cream and condensed milk is especially useful. The shutdown of…

Shelf stable milk is the dominant product in drinking milk products in Ecuador. Sales in 2021 are set to be lower than 2020; however, volumes will be well above that seen in 2019, prior to the pandemic. The crisis saw consumption spike as consumers…