El Salvador’s export sector kicked off the first four months of 2026 with a robust 5% increase, generating $2,247.8 million in revenue. According to the latest report from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), this represents an additional $107.8 million injected into the economy compared to the same period in 2025. In terms of volume, the country shipped 1,484.6 million kilograms of goods abroad, marking a significant 12.7% volume growth that reflects a stronger international demand for Salvadoran production.

The surge was primarily fueled by stellar performances in agricultural and manufacturing sectors. While traditional t-shirts remained the top export despite a slight dip, sugar exports skyrocketed by 39.1%, reaching $150.2 million due to a massive 104.7% volume surge in quintals shipped. Additionally, coffee exports grew by 45.8% to $104.2 million, alongside steady gains in specialized industries like electrical capacitors and insulation cables, which posted growth rates of 36.6% and 19.2% respectively.

The United States firmly maintained its position as El Salvador’s leading trade partner, accounting for 32.6% of total exports after purchasing $731.7 million in goods—a 4.3% increase from last year. Guatemala followed closely as the second-largest destination with a 3.1% growth, while trade with Morocco experienced an unprecedented boom, expanding by over 7,900% to position the North African nation as a surprising new major commercial ally.

However, the rapid economic momentum also triggered a rise in domestic consumption and industrial demand, causing imports to climb by 5.9% to a total of $5,950 million. As a result of inbound shipments outpacing outbound sales, El Salvador’s trade deficit widened by 6.4%, closing the four-month cycle at $3,702.2 million.