Fuel Prices Just Jumped — Extra/Ecopaís $3.024, Super $4.57, Locked In Until May 11

What Changed

New fuel prices took effect April 12, 2026 and will stay in place through May 11, when they'll be reviewed again. The new numbers, per Camddepe (the Cámara Nacional de Distribuidores de Derivados del Petróleo del Ecuador, the national fuel distributors' chamber) (source):

• Extra and Ecopaís: up to $3.024 per gallon
• Diesel: up to $2.962 per gallon
• Super (which runs without state subsidy): suggested retail $4.57 per gallon

In El Mercurio's words: "las gasolinas Extra y Ecopaís subieron a 3,024 dólares por galón, mientras que el diésel pasó a costar 2,962 dólares por galón."

Why

Engineer and university professor Javier Núñez told the paper the main driver is international crude oil prices — specifically, "la subida del precio internacional del crudo, que supera los 100 dólares por barril." Crude above $100 a barrel is a threshold that forces Ecuador's stabilization scheme to pass costs through.

The Transport Reaction

Transport sector leaders are worried. Rising fuel costs hit bus operators, taxis, and delivery businesses directly, and the sector is already telegraphing meetings with the government. If you've been wondering whether fares will move — that's the negotiation happening now.

What This Means for You

• Taxi and Uber fares may nudge up. Individual drivers absorb some of the hit, but sustained fuel pressure tends to show up in pricing within a few weeks.
• Own a car? Your fill-up just got more expensive. If you drive a car that takes Super, you're now paying $4.57 per gallon with no subsidy cushion.
• Bus fares are a political fight, not a market one. Any change has to go through city hall and the transport chamber, so don't assume your $0.35 bus ride changes overnight.
• The window is short. Prices get reviewed again May 11. A big drop in crude could ease things; another spike could push them higher.

Sources: El Mercurio, Camddepe