El Salvador’s specialty coffee sector has achieved a major international milestone, generating $181.4 million in export revenue during the first nine months of 2026. According to the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), this reflects a 15.3% growth compared to the same period in 2025 and marks the country’s highest coffee export value recorded since 2014.Driven by ongoing state initiatives and renewed agricultural investment, the harvest commanded an impressive average price of $327.80 per quintal across global markets.

The United States solidified its position as the primary destination for Salvadoran coffee, acquiring $106.9 million of the 553,300 quintals shipped worldwide between January and September. International demand also expanded across key European and Asian markets, with Belgium, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Japan leading secondary purchases. “These figures demonstrate that global buyers increasingly recognize the exceptional quality and economic value of our specialty origins,” noted central bank representatives in their latest quarterly report.

This commercial momentum allowed coffee to account for 3.6% of El Salvador’s total exports through Q3. Cultivated across 105,000 manzanas in premier growing regions—predominantly throughout Santa Ana, La Libertad, Ahuachapán,and Sonsonate—the crop continues to serve as a vital pillar of the nation’s rural economy.

Alongside coffee’s historic rise, the agricultural sector experienced broader trade gains across major traditional commodities. Sugar cane exports grew 1.4% year-over-year to reach $159.5 million, delivering over 9.1 million quintals to international buyers. The United States also led sugar purchases at $83.8 million, highlighting sustained North American reliance on Salvadoran agricultural goods.