The port of Esmeraldas is important for the northern part of Ecuador. Tha main export from this port are wood and wood chips. Also exported are bananas and other agricultural products. The Balao port is the oil port of Ecuador. The city of Esmeraldas beach is beautiful and weekends can be enjoyed there with good food, nightlife and lots of fun.
Agriculture and livestock
The soil allows the production of rice, maize, African Palm, albacá and a variety of tropical fruits. Among the main forest species are: chanul, raft, laurel, sande, guayacán and tangaré. Cattle and pig rearing is important. Marine resources of fish (corvina, snapper, lisa, tuna, etc.) are abundant and varied constituting in important category of its economy.
Industry in Esmeraldas consists of manufacturing, timber, chemicals and oil. Concerns exist about forest management and deforestation in the Chaco rainforest. The trans-Andean pipeline was completed in August 1972, connecting the Oriente reserves to refining facilities in Esmeraldas, and the oil industry is the largest employer. In 1987, the refinery was expanded for the first time to 90,000 barrels per day (14,000 m/d). The second expansion, to 110,000 barrels (17,000 m), occurred in 1995. The refinery is equipped with electronic instrumentation. Operational capacity of the plant is 10,000 barrels per day (1,600 m/d). This petrol is used for mixtures because of its high aromaticity. The profitability of the refinery is in sight, by which the state has the obligation to comply with the country supporting the workers project that seeks to increase the production of derivatives and reduce import and ensure that its operations are maintained in the hands of Ecuadorians
