El Puerto de Acajutla
El Salvador Exports increased to $5.09 billion during the first nine months of 2026, up $182.3 million from the same period last year, according to the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).
El Salvador’s export sector continued to grow, with foreign sales rising 3.7% compared to the same period last year. During the first nine months of 2025, the country exported $4.91 billion in goods.
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Change Same Month a Year Ago |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 522.6 | 531.1 | 515.8 | 559.4 | 43.7 (8.5%) |
| February | 582.9 | 506.7 | 530.8 | 521.4 | -9.4 (-1.8%) |
| March | 683.7 | 506.8 | 558.6 | 582.6 | 24.0 (4.3%) |
| April | 471.5 | 584.9 | 534.9 | 584.4 | 49.5 (9.3%) |
| May | 589.7 | 565.0 | 585.1 | 555.6 | -29.4 (-5%) |
| June | 588.9 | 501.3 | 540.7 | 597.2 | 56.5 (10.5%) |
| July | 568.7 | 561.9 | 600.2 | 636.1 | 36.0 (6.0%) |
| August | 539.6 | 519.8 | 523.8 | 492.6 | -31.2 (-6.0%) |
| September | 502.4 | 519.2 | 521.1 | 563.7 | 42.6 (8.2%) |
| October | 495.8 | 555.1 | 541.2 | ||
| November | 503.2 | 529.9 | 510.8 | ||
| December | 449.1 | 429.9 | 465.8 | ||
| Total Billions | 6.50 | 6.31 | 6.43 | 5.09 | 3.7% *YTD |
Exports play an important role in the El Salvador Economy, supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and bringing money into the country. But they’re just one part of the nation’s overall economic picture.
September Exports Rebound After August Decline
Salvadoran exporters bounced back in September, bringing in $563.7 million in foreign sales. That’s an 8.2% increase from September 2025, following a 6% drop in August.
However, imports continued to grow faster than exports. El Salvador spent $14.49 billion on foreign goods through September, up 10% from last year, pushing the country’s trade deficit even higher.
Clothing, Sugar, and Coffee Among Leading Exports
Knitted T-shirts remained El Salvador’s top export product, bringing in $342.9 million despite a 9.9% drop in sales. Sweaters came next with $309.5 million, followed by plastic products at $259.27 million.
Cane sugar brought in $201.71 million in export revenue, while electrical capacitors generated $184.1 million. Capacitors stood out with a strong 39.8% increase in sales compared to the previous year.
Coffee ranked sixth among the country’s leading exports, generating $181.36 million, a 15.3% increase. Salvadoran producers shipped more than 553,300 quintals of coffee during the nine-month period.
United States Remains Largest Export Market
The United States remains the primary destination for Salvadoran exports. This year, Salvadoran products worth $1.66 billion have been shipped to the United States, accounting for 32.6% of the country’s total exports.
According to the Central Reserve Bank(BCR), exports to the U.S. grew by 3.1% between January and September 2026.
Guatemala is the second-largest destination for Salvadoran products, with exports totaling $896.6 million this year, accounting for 19.6% of total exports. Compared to 2025, exports to Guatemala have increased by $48.2 million, representing a 5.7% increment.
Other international markets recorded notable increases. Exports to Canada grew 76.8% to $48.27 million, while shipments to China increased 26.7%, reaching $59.32 million.
Morocco and Thailand posted particularly sharp percentage increases, with exports rising 4,059% and 869.5%, respectively. However, both markets still account for relatively small portions of Salvadoran foreign sales.
Export growth can create opportunities for Salvadoran workers and businesses, but economic figures only tell part of the story. Learn more about what daily life is really like for people living in El Salvador.
