Ecuador has increased the tariff for transporting Colombia’s crude oil through its state-owned pipeline by 900%, escalating a trade and diplomatic dispute between the two nations that began with mutual tariff impositions and accusations regarding border security.
On Monday, the Ecuadorian government announced it raised the fee for using the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) from US$3 to US$30 per barrel. The measure, which affects Colombia’s state-owned energy company Ecopetrol, has been in effect since Friday, Jan. 23.
According to reporting by Agencia Periodismo Investigativo, Minister of Environment and Energy Ines Manzano confirmed the measure, saying, “We made a change in the value of the rate; instead of US$3, it is US$30.”
The tariff increase further escalates tensions between the two countries
The tariff hike is the latest development in a deepening diplomatic rift between Colombia and Ecuador. Tensions began on Jan. 21 when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced a “security fee” of 30% on imports from Colombia, effective Feb. 1. Noboa cited a lack of “reciprocity and firm actions” from Colombia in fighting drug trafficking along their shared border.
President Noboa stated on X, “We have made real cooperation efforts with Colombia. … But while we have insisted on dialogue, our military continues to face criminal groups tied to drug trafficking on the border without any cooperation.”
#MUNDO| La ministra de Ambiente y Energía de Ecuador, Inés Manzano, confirmó el incremento del 900% (de 3 a 30 dólares) en la tarifa de transporte de crudo colombiano por el Sistema de Oleoducto Transecuatoriano (Sote).
La nueva tarifa entró en vigor el pasado viernes 23 de… pic.twitter.com/mZgHUZnyAO
— ÚltimaHoraCaracol (@UltimaHoraCR) January 26, 2026
In response, Colombia suspended energy sales to Ecuador, which is currently facing an energy deficit, and imposed a reciprocal 30% tariff on more than 20 Ecuadorian products, including rice, palm oil, and tires. Manzano described the oil transport hike as an act of “reciprocity” following Colombia’s decision to cut off electricity sales.
Ecuador is crucial for Colombia’s oil exports
Ecuador provides a critical service to Colombia by transporting crude from southern Colombia, a region plagued by illicit activities and attacks on infrastructure, to the Pacific coast for export. In a statement, Manzano explained, “They do not have the crude because that sector of Colombia is a sector where there are illicit activities, where they have had ‘N’ amount of attacks and, obviously, what we did was support them so they could get their crude out.”
The price hike specifically applies to the SOTE pipeline, which is managed by the public company Petroecuador. In November 2025, SOTE transported approximately 10,300 barrels of Colombian petroleum per day.
Hemos hecho esfuerzos reales de cooperación con Colombia, incluso con un déficit comercial que supera los 1.000 millones de dólares anuales. Pero mientras hemos insistido en el diálogo, nuestros militares siguen enfrentando a grupos criminales atados al narcotráfico en la…
— Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) January 21, 2026
Manzano clarified that the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP), which also transports Colombian oil, operates under agreements between private entities. She did not specify whether rates for OCP would also increase. OCP has a capacity of 450,000 barrels per day, compared to SOTE’s 360,000.
A diplomatic solution, unlikely in the immediate future
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis remain uncertain. Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld stated that while Colombia proposed a meeting on Feb. 25 to discuss the tariffs, Ecuador has pushed for a meeting this week. No official date has been publicly announced.
Colombia’s foreign minister, Rosa Villavicencio, and President Gustavo Petro are preparing for a visit to the White House on Feb. 3. The pair has been granted a 5-day visa for their visit.
Meanwhile, the list of Ecuadorian products now subject to Colombia’s new 30% tariff is extensive, covering agriculture and industrial goods ranging from beans, cocoa powder, and sugar to aluminum tubes and footwear.