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El Salvador’s imports totaled US$1,643.78 million in august 2026, a decrease of US$181.99 million, equivalent to 9.97%, compared to the US$1,825.77 million recorded in july. The preliminary data was provided by the Banco Central de Reserva (BCR), through the External Sector Department, using information from the General Directorate of Customs and fuel distributors, in accordance with Balance of Payments methodology.
The largest decline in value occurred in the manufacturing sector, where imports fell from US$1,644.23 million in july to US$1,545.05 million in august. This represented a decrease of US$99.18 million, equivalent to 6.03%. This sector accounted for approximately 94% of total imports in august, making it the primary driver of the monthly decline. Within this sector, imports of other manufactured goods decreased by 6.03%, while processed coffee fell by 22.50% and imports of cane sugar and other sugars remained virtually unchanged.
The second-largest decrease in value was recorded in agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing. Imports in this sector fell from US$91.18 million in july to US$48.70 million in august, a decrease of US$42.48 million, equivalent to 46.59%. The decline was driven by the “other agricultural products” category, which also fell from US$91.18 million to US$48.70 million. Imports of green coffee and other unprocessed coffee remained at zero in both months.
In percentage terms, the sharpest decline was in mining and quarrying, where imports fell from US$31.52 million to US$1.63 million. This represented a reduction of US$29.89 million, equivalent to 94.83 percent, the steepest percentage contraction among the sectors analyzed. Although the decline was considerable, its share of total imports was much smaller due to the relatively small amount it represents compared to manufactured goods.
The maquila manufacturing industry also recorded a decline. Its imports fell from US$45.07 million in july to US$37.67 million in august, a reduction of US$7.40 million, equivalent to 16.42%. By category, maquila imports of other products fell 19.34%, from US$24.61 million to US$19.85 million; maquila production of knitwear decreased by 15.80%, from US$12.72 million to US$10.71 million; and maquila production of textile products fell by 8.27%, from US$7.74 million to US$7.10 million.
The electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector also saw a decline, falling from US$6.28 million in july to US$3.22 million in august. The decrease amounted to US$3.06 million, equivalent to 48.73%. Thus, among the sectors that reduced their imports, the largest percentage declines were in mining and quarrying (-94.83%), agriculture (-46.59%), and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (-48.73%), while manufacturing and maquila recorded declines of 6.03% and 16.42%, respectively.
In contrast, wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles was the only sector that increased its imports between july and august. Imports rose from US$7.49 million to US$7.51 million, an increase of just US$0.02 million, equivalent to 0.27%. Therefore, this sector showed the greatest stability during the period, although its growth was too small to offset the declines recorded in the other sectors.
Overall, the 9.97% monthly decline was driven primarily by the contraction in the manufacturing sector, which contributed a negative US$99.18 million to the result; agriculture, down US$42.48 million; and mining and quarrying, down US$29.89 million. These declines were compounded by decreases in the maquila sector and electricity supply. The slight increase in trade, of 0.27%, was not enough to offset the declines in other sectors.
August 2026 compared to august 2025
When comparing august 2026 to the same month in 2025, the trend is different. Imports rose from US$1,399.17 million in august 2025 to US$1,643.78 million in august 2026, an increase of US$244.61 million, equivalent to 17.48%. The main increase was again in the manufacturing sector, which grew by 18.69%, rising from US$1,301.72 million to US$1,545.05 million.
Imports by the maquila manufacturing industry also increased by 17.72 percent, rising from US$32.00 million to US$37.67 million; trade rose by 75.88%, from US$4.27 million to US$7.51 million; and the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning, which recorded a 175.21% increase, from US$1.17 million to US$3.22 million. Agriculture, on the other hand, decreased by 16.62%, falling from US$58.41 million to US$48.70 million. In the case of mining and quarrying, imports rose from US$1.61 million to US$1.63 million, an increase of 1.24%. Thus, although august saw a decline compared to july, imports were 17.48% higher than a year earlier.
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