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Ecuador

Open in the explorerOrganisations (6)Events

Production, refining and reserves

CommodityMetricValueWorld rank · shareSource
CopperMine production 2022110,000 t Cu content#22 · 0.5%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (copper), table 20
AntimonyMine production 20201 t Sb content—USGS MCS 2021
BariteMine production 20213,000 t barite (gross weight)—USGS Minerals Yearbook 2020-21 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Ecuador, table 1
SilverMine production 20212,273 kg Ag content—USGS Minerals Yearbook 2020-21 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Ecuador, table 1
FeldsparMine production 202140,000 t feldspar (gross weight)—USGS Minerals Yearbook 2020-21 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Ecuador, table 1
Pumice and pumiciteMine production 2025800,000 t pumice and pumicite#7 · 4%USGS MCS 2026

Policies and export measures

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Trade in critical minerals

Exports 2024$1.3 bn

  1. Copper$1.2 bnto China 92%, Peru 4%, South Korea 1% · 15 more
  2. Aluminium$38 mto Honduras 21%, Malaysia 17%, Brazil 9% · 16 more
  3. Lead$33 mto Brazil 58%, United States of America 31%, Colombia 5% · 6 more
  4. Zinc$3 mto China 55%, Peru 14%, Indonesia 13% · 5 more
  5. Manganese$2 mto Germany 100%
  6. Platinum$428 kto Italy 100%
  7. Molybdenum$373 kto China 100%
  8. Phosphate rock$278 kto Chile 100%

and 13 more commodities

Imports 2024$176 m

  1. Potash$60 mfrom Canada 55%, Chile 26%, Germany 9% · 14 more
  2. Aluminium$36 mfrom United Arab Emirates 37%, India 35%, Costa Rica 7% · 26 more
  3. Copper$35 mfrom Peru 70%, Brazil 29%, Colombia 0% · 11 more
  4. Zinc$11 mfrom Peru 97%, Brazil 2%, United States of America 1% · 4 more
  5. Manganese*$9 mfrom India 70%, Brazil 16%, Mexico 6% · 10 more
  6. Lead$5 mfrom United States of America 71%, El Salvador 11%, Paraguay 7% · 6 more
  7. Antimony$4 mfrom Peru 95%, France 2%, China 2% · 2 more
  8. Boron*$2 mfrom Peru 58%, Türkiye 23%, Chile 9% · 11 more

and 28 more commodities

Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.

Fiscal regime for mining

InstrumentApplies toRateLegal basis
RoyaltyCopper, Gold, Silver, Zinc, Lead, MolybdenumLarge/medium-scale concessionaires and processing plants pay 3%-8% of sales, set progressively by production volume and/or mineral type and price under the Regulations and the exploitation contract; small-scale mining 3%; State must receive benefits not less than the concessionaire's (Constitution Art. 408)3-8 sliding scalesales of the main mineral and secondary mineralsLey de Minería (RO Suplemento 517, 29 Jan 2009), Art. 93 as reformed by the Ley Orgánica para el Fomento Productivo (RO Suplemento 309, 21 Aug 2018) · Art. 93in force 2018-08-21
OtherAll mineralsOf the 15% employee profit share, mining workers receive 3% and the remaining 12% is paid to the State and decentralised governments for social investment (small-scale mining: 10% workers / 5% State)12%15% statutory worker profit shareLey de Minería (RO Suplemento 517, 29 Jan 2009), Art. 93 as reformed by the Ley Orgánica para el Fomento Productivo (RO Suplemento 309, 21 Aug 2018) · Art. 67in force 2018-08-21

Rates and terms as set in the cited law or regulation; agreements with individual projects can differ. Not legal or tax advice.

Deals and financing (3)

  1. 2025-12-24 · Acquisition · completed · GBP 764.4

    Jiangxi Copper (Hong Kong) Investment Co. (Jiangxi Copper) → SolGold plc · Cascabel (Alpala) copper-gold project

    Jiangxi Copper agreed a recommended all-cash takeover of SolGold, owner of the Cascabel copper-gold project in Ecuador, at 28 pence a share for up to GBP 764 million for the shares it did not already own.

    official release

  2. 2024-03-01 · Joint venture · signed

    JOGMEC → Adventus Mining Corporation · Tres Picachos copper exploration (Zamora Chinchipe)

    JOGMEC signed a joint exploration agreement with Adventus Mining for the Tres Picachos copper area in southern Ecuador, JOGMEC's second exploration project in the country.

    official release

  3. 2024-01-11 · Equity investment · signed · CAD 129.59

    Jinlong (Singapore) Mining Pte. Ltd. (Zijin Mining) → Solaris Resources Inc. · Warintza copper project

    Zijin Mining agreed to subscribe for 28.5 million Solaris Resources shares at CAD 4.55 by private placement, about CAD 129.6 million, becoming its second-largest shareholder with about 15% and a board nomination right.

    official release

Mines and facilities (4)

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