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El Salvador could achieve economic growth of up to 6% in 2026, driven by the performance of exports, services, tourism, and investment, according to private sector projections.
The estimate was presented by the president of the Asociación Salvadoreña de Industriales (ASI), Jorge Arriaza, who noted that various indicators show positive trends during the first months of the year and could lead the country to register one of the highest rates of economic growth in the region.
Exports are one of the factors supporting this outlook. According to data presented by the president of the Corporación de Exportadores de El Salvador (COEXPORT), Silvia Cuéllar, salvadoran sales abroad are projected to grow by 5% in value and 10% in volume during 2026.
The increase in volume reflects that the country is exporting a greater quantity of products, while the growth in value shows an increase in income generated by foreign trade.
Cuéllar highlighted that the United States remains the primary destination for salvadoran exports, accounting for approximately 32% of total foreign sales. Including Central American markets, these two destinations represent nearly 80% of national exports.
The business leader also noted that exports of goods and services reach approximately US$14 billion, solidifying their position as one of the main drivers of the country’s economic activity.
Among the best-performing sectors are textiles, which continue to recover; agribusiness, boosted by products such as coffee and sugar; the food industry; and the pharmaceutical sector, which is among the fastest-growing export sectors so far this year.
These figures are complemented by the positive performance of other economic indicators, such as services, tourism, and remittances, which also contribute to strengthening the growth outlook for 2026.
Representatives from ASI and COEXPORT also believe that El Salvador’s removal from the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) shortlist of cases strengthens the country’s image among investors and international trading partners. In their view, this decision can help generate greater confidence for new investments and support export growth in the coming years.
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