El Salvador Trade Deficit Narrows in January

El Salvador’s trade deficit widened to USD 836.38 million in February 2026 from USD 765.89 million a year earlier. Imports rose 4.71% to USD 1.36 billion, driven by a 17.92% decrease in maquila goods, with purchases from outside Central America up 5.10% and those from the region up 6.70%. Exports fell 1.77% to USD 521.4 million, as traditional goods sales fell 48.91% and non traditional exports rose 4.18%. Sales to markets outside Central America rose 10.66%, while exports to the region fell 0.02%.

El Salvador’s trade deficit narrowed to USD 799.23 million in January 2026 from USD 905.30 million a year earlier. Imports fell 4.39% to USD 1.36 billion, driven by a 1.54% decrease in maquila goods, with purchases from outside Central America down 5.81% and those from the region up 1.73%. Exports rose 8.46% to USD 559.4 million, as traditional goods sales surged 154.94% and non traditional exports rose 0.91%. Sales to markets outside Central America rose 0.14%, while exports to the region rose 1.42%.

El Salvador’s trade deficit widened to USD 1.11 billion in December 2025 from USD 945.68 million a year earlier. Imports rose 14.62% to USD 1.58 billion, driven by a 1.26% increase in manufacturing goods, with purchases from outside Central America up 15.5% and those from the region up 12.21%. Exports rose 8.33% to USD 465.8 million, as traditional goods sales surged 58.8% and non traditional exports rose 7.7%. Sales to markets outside Central America surged 17.4%, while exports to the region rose 1.4%.