El Salvador exports totaled $582.9 million in February, down 4.33% year to date

By Eddie Galdamez  | Updated on Mar 21st, 2023
El Salvador exports
Acajutla port in El Salvador. Image by CEPA

El Salvador exports in 2023 total $1105.5 million. It represents a -4.33% decrease, equal to $50.0 million less compared to 2021, according to data from the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR).

El Salvador exports in 2023 average $552.7 million per month, reaching an all-time high of $582.9 million in February. The average for 2022 was $592.9 million, with March being the highest month at $720.3 million in exports.

In February 2023, El Salvador exported $582.9 million of products, surpassing the $576.6 million shipped in February 2022, registering an increase of 1.10%, equivalent to $6.3 million more.

El Salvador Exports
2020 2021 2022 2023 Change
2022-2023
January 464.9 515.6 578.9 522.6 -9.73%
February 509.1 504.9 576.6 582.9 1.10%
March 399.3 558.3 720.3
April 212.2 512.5 566.8
May 234.2 532.5 638.5
June 274.8 539.0 625.9
July 443.0 582.3 678.4
August 423.6 498.7 576.0
September 469.3 550.4 584.6
October 492.9 552.2 560.7
November 428.3 538.2 530.6
December 454.0 510.3 477.9
Totals 4805.4 6394.9 7115.1 1105.5 -4.33% YTD
Average 400.5 532.9 592.9 552.7

The February 2023 exports were 11.55% more than the previous month, an increment of $60.4 million.

Thus far, in 2023, the manufacturing and maquila industries total $1061.04 million, or 95.98% of the total exported by the country. The manufacturing sector is the largest exporter, with $864.14 million for 78.17% of the total. The Maquila industry was second, with $196.90 million in exports for 17.81% of the total.

The agriculture, livestock farming, forestry, and fishing sector exported $37.84 million (3.42% of the total) this year. It includes the coffee sector, which exported $25.26 million.

Because of the decrease in exports in January, El Salvador is registering negative growth in 2023 compared to 2021.

Central America consolidated itself as the primary destination for exports of Salvadoran goods in 2022, receiving about 46% of the total exports.