
China solidified its position as the second-largest supplier to the salvadoran market, with sales to El Salvador reaching US$3.566 billion by the end of 2025, according to data from the Banco Central de Reserva (BCR). This figure reflects the significant role the Asian country plays in supplying products to the national market and places it among El Salvador’s main trading partners in terms of imports.
In contrast, salvadoran exports to China reached US$49.9 million during 2025, highlighting a marked difference between the value of El Salvador’s purchases from that market and the value of the products it manages to sell to it. In other words, for every dollar exported to China, El Salvador imported a considerably larger quantity of goods from that country.

China thus maintains a relevant position within El Salvador’s foreign trade, especially as a source of products for the national market. Data from the BCR shows that trade between El Salvador and China is heavily concentrated on imports, while salvadoran exports to the Asian giant still represent a much smaller amount.
The economic relationship between the two countries develops within the framework of their diplomatic ties, established in 2018. Since then, China has gained importance as a trading partner of El Salvador, particularly due to the volume of goods it places in the salvadoran market.

The figure of US$3.566 billion in imports compared to US$49.9 million in exports highlights the importance of China to the salvadoran economy and, at the same time, the challenge of expanding opportunities for salvadoran products in that market.
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