According to industry research, Ecuador’s construction sector languishes due to poor infrastructure and lack of investments. The construction industry was valued at $5.62 billion in 2009. The industry is projected to fall to $5.48 billion in 2010. However, with the commodity prices increasing, this sector is expected to reach $6.96 billion by 2014. The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in 2009 authorized a loan of $350 million in addition to $16.5 million provided by the government for developing the initial phase of a national road program. Ecuador is one of the riskiest countries in South America to begin a business. The country relies heavily on oil exports and had a fiscal deficit of -6% in 2009. Echoing the slump, the construction industry is expected to fall by 5.8% in 2010.
Ecuador will account for 2.48% of Latin America’s regional oil demand by 2014, while providing 4.87% of the supplies. State-owned oil companies have collaborated with several international oil companies and delivered greater volumes of crude oil over the last few years. Crude production is expected to reach 520,000 b/d by 2014, from 495,000 b/d in 2010. Export capabilities are expected to reach 312,000 b/d by 2014. Between 2009 and 2019, Ecuador’s oil production, however, is expected to witness a decrease of 12.2% with crude volumes rising from an estimated 490,000b/d in 2009 to a 2014 peak of 525,000b/d, before falling to 430,000b/d by the end of the 10-year forecast period.