Market research

Broken rice market in El Salvador

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for broken rice in El Salvador declined from 16 621 metric tons in 2018 to 11 317 metric tons in 2021. This contraction was driven by a sharp drop in imports, which fell by over 5 000 metric tons during the period. In 2021, the rice sector faced a crisis due to government-imposed price ceilings and state imports that saturated the market, reducing incentives for commercial imports of broken rice. Additionally, the scheduled elimination of import tariffs under CAFTA-DR, from 40% to 0% by 2023, created uncertainty among domestic producers and importers.

Market volume rebounded to 15 956 metric tons in 2022, largely because of a surge in imports to 17 214 metric tons, likely linked to continued government purchasing to stabilize supply. Exports of broken rice also emerged as a new trend, reaching 2 086 metric tons in 2022, indicating the entry of local processors into foreign markets. By 2023, however, the market volume fell again to 12 242 metric tons, as imports retreated and exports grew to 4 023 metric tons.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in El Salvador
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in El Salvador in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in El Salvador in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production broken rice in El Salvador

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of broken rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of broken rice, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

El Salvador's production of broken rice declined after two years of growth. In 2021, the country produced 785.7 tons, marking a 7.5% year-over-year decrease. Looking at the broader period from 2018 to 2021, production actually increased by 8.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.6%. The peak was reached in 2020 with 849.3 tons, when production surged by 16.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.5%	16.3%	(7.5%)	2.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports broken rice from El Salvador

Exports in kind, t

In 2021, El Salvador exported 51 tons of broken rice, a decrease of 34.7% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(34.7%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Honduras and Guatemala were the exclusive destinations for El Salvador's broken rice exports in kind. Honduras accounted for 57.4% of total flows, while Guatemala made up the remaining 42.6%, together representing 100.0% of exports.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2021, the value of broken rice shipments from El Salvador reached 18 thousand US dollars, showing a solid increase of 11.0% year-over-year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	11.0%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Honduras and Guatemala formed the entire market for El Salvador's broken rice exports in value terms, together accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from El Salvador in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports broken rice to El Salvador

Imports in kind, t

Broken rice imports into El Salvador declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports amounted to 10 582 tons, representing a substantial decrease of 17.1% compared to 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports fell by 33.4%, equating to an average annual decline of 12.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.7%)	(11.1%)	(17.1%)	(12.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the main sources for broken rice imports in kind were Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Nicaragua accounted for 38.5% of imports, Costa Rica for 34.9%, and Honduras for 26.6%, together making up 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

El Salvador's broken rice imports in value terms declined for the third year in a row. In 2021, imports stood at 4 148 thousand US dollars, a 17.3% reduction from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports decreased by 27.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -10.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.0%)	(6.2%)	(17.3%)	(10.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras were consistently the primary sources for broken rice imports in value terms. Nicaragua accounted for 35.7% of imports, Costa Rica for 34.8%, and Honduras for 29.5%, together representing 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to El Salvador in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io