For the first time since 2012, coffee exports from El Salvador have overtaken sugar, according to the Central Reserve Bank (BCR). The rebound of the country’s iconic crop has been driven mainly by record international prices, marking a symbolic comeback for what was once the backbone of Salvadoran agriculture.
From January to September 2025, coffee exports totaled $157.31 million, slightly above the $157.22 million reported for sugar in the same period. “This shift highlights the strong price momentum of coffee on the global market,” noted a BCR analyst.
Although export volumes fell by 0.9% compared to last year —around 532,600 quintals versus 537,200 in 2024— the higher prices compensated for the decline. The average export price per quintal reached $295.3, up from $227.8 last year, with 60-kilogram sacks selling for over $400 in international markets.
Coffee once placed El Salvador among the world’s top four producers during the 1970s. However, a severe coffee rust outbreak in 2012–2013 caused production to plummet, allowing sugar to dominate agricultural exports for more than a decade. Now, with improved prices and renewed optimism in the sector, the “golden bean” seems to be regaining part of its historic prestige.