El Salvador recorded a strong start to the 2025–2026 coffee harvest, with 35,381 quintals of gold coffee produced during the first month of the cycle, equivalent to an 800 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous harvest, according to the Salvadoran Coffee Institute (ISC). The production increase represents 31,468 additional quintals compared with October 2024, bringing total output for the month to more than 1.6 million kilograms.
Despite the sharp initial growth, the ISC cautioned that the coffee cycle runs from October to September, and peak production occurs between November and March, meaning final harvest figures could still change as the season progresses. Unlike the Central Reserve Bank, which reports data by calendar month, the ISC presents results by harvest cycle based on reports from processing mills and parchment coffee producers.
Exports during the first month of the current cycle totaled 5,637 quintals of gold coffee, generating $2.4 million in revenue. However, export performance showed a 79.9 percent drop in volume and a 67 percent decline in income compared to the same period of the previous cycle. North America remained the main destination, absorbing 59.8 percent of shipments at an average price of $395.51 per quintal.
Middle Eastern countries ranked second with a 22.6 percent share and an average price of $446.16. Asia purchased smaller volumes but paid the highest average prices, while Central America and the Caribbean recorded minimal participation at premium values. The ISC reported that 86.4 percent of exports were sold as green coffee, allowing access to higher-value specialty markets, with smaller shares shipped as soluble and roasted coffee.