El Salvador exported $714.9 million in food products

Salvadoran food products have conquered close to 40 international markets, and is one of the fastest growing sectors, according to the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists.

The statistical database of the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) indicates that, between January and July 2024, El Salvador exported $714.9 million in food products, which represents a growth of 4.6% compared to the movement recorded last year when this industry sold $683.2 million in the same period.

According to the state bank, the tractor of food exports is the elaboration of sugar, which added international sales for $238.9 million in the first seven months of this year, against the $237.1 million accumulated in the same period of 2023, that is, $1.8 million more sold in this item.

Meanwhile, in the processing of oils and fats of vegetable and animal origin, international sales between January and July totaled more than $19 million; the processing of chocolate, cocoa and confectionery products obtained sales of $34.2 million; and the processing of animal feed reached exports of $22 million.

In turn, the processing of milling products had sales of more than $51 million; of bakery products $85.8 million; and of dairy products $28.9 million.

In addition, the processing and preservation of meat $7.3 million; fruits and vegetables $87.2 million; crustaceans and mollusks $57 million; and other food products totaled $81.9 million.

According to the president of the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI), Jorge Arriaza, this is a key sector of the national production, which together with the beverage sector has made space in about 40 international markets.

“We have a first class food and beverage industry with a variety of products, and it is interesting that, at a general level, most national products are exported to more than 120 countries in the world, and in the food sector we are reaching about 30 or 40 countries,” the executive said recently.

Arriaza also highlighted in this dynamic, the weight of nostalgic products, which are in high demand mainly in the United States due to the large number of nationals and Latin Americans who are based in that country.

“El Salvador is a leader in nostalgic products to markets such as Los Angeles, Washington or Houston because the Latin demand has grown tremendously and continues to grow,” he said.

He explained that the U.S. market mainly seeks nostalgic or dehydrated product, and is also a major recipient of others that send in bulk as honey, processed, vacuum packed, and stressed that the domestic industry meets all the requirements for entry into any country.

“We comply with everything that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and any country establishes, it is really a great effort of the Salvadoran food industry, to be at the level of the world,” he said.

Regarding the beverage industry, the BCR indicated that exports between January and July of this year reached $105.4 million, an item in which non-alcoholic beverages sold $96.3 million of the total.

Source: Diario El Salvador