El Salvador’s trade deficit widened to $1.15 billion in August 2026 from $875.4 million a year earlier, as imports increased and exports declined. Imports rose 17.5% year-on-year to $1.64 billion, up from $1.40 billion in August 2025, while exports fell 6% to $492.6 million from $523.8 million.
Import growth was broad-based, led by consumer goods, which rose about 23%, and intermediate goods, which increased nearly 19%. Imports of capital goods were up about 5%. On the export side, non-maquila shipments declined about 8%, partially offset by an approximately 8% increase in maquila exports.
Coffee exports were roughly $12 million in August, little changed from a year earlier, while sugar exports dropped to about $8.5 million from $14.7 million.