El Salvador’s exports grew by 5.7% as of February 2025, reaching $1.097 billion, according to the Central Reserve Bank (BCR). Export volume also increased by 2.8%, indicating stronger demand and better pricing for Salvadoran goods.
Between January and February, exports totaled $1.097 billion, marking an increase of $59.3 million compared to the same period in 2024. The volume of goods exported also showed improvement, growing by 2.8% year-over-year, reaching 654.9 million kilograms. This indicates that Salvadoran businesses are not only shipping more products but are also securing better prices for them.
Imports, on the other hand, saw an even greater increase of 9.1%, accumulating $2.763 billion. With the exception of inputs for maquila, which dropped by 30%, all other categories recorded positive variations. Capital goods, including manufacturing and transportation equipment, experienced a 14.9% rise, while consumer goods grew by 11%.
Guatemala, El Salvador’s second-largest trading partner, showed a more promising trend, with exports increasing by 20.2% to $233.3 million. Similarly, exports to Honduras reached $185.2 million, reflecting a 20.3% growth.
However, not all international markets showed positive results. Among the top 50 export destinations, shipments to China dropped by 22.6%, while exports to Mexico plummeted by 55%. Chile and Taiwan saw even sharper declines, with reductions of 73.8% and 44.4%, respectively.
The textile industry, a major employer in El Salvador’s formal economy, continued to struggle. Textile exports totaled $117.7 million, reflecting a contraction of 20.9%. Business leaders attribute this decline to weaker demand, particularly from the United States, following two years of inflationary pressures.
One of the hardest-hit segments was T-shirts, the country’s top export product, which suffered a 26.7% drop. Companies shipped $84.5 million worth of T-shirts by February 2025, a decrease of $30.8 million compared to the previous year.