Coconuts market in El Salvador

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the coconut market in El Salvador contracted sharply, with volume falling from 120 thousand tons to 59 thousand tons. This decline was primarily driven by the aging of coconut palms, which required renewal, and the impact of plant diseases such as lethal yellowing, which caused significant production losses.

Market volume began to recover from 2021 onward, reaching 86 thousand tons by 2023. Although specific renewal actions were not detailed in later sources, earlier plans emphasized replanting with hybrid or dwarf varieties to improve yields. Globally, demand for coconut water and plant-based functional products continued to rise, offering export potential that the local industry had not fully captured.

By 2023, production had rebounded to 82 thousand tons, supporting a market volume that remained below the 2018 peak but showed consistent growth. Imports and exports stayed minimal, keeping the market predominantly supplied by domestic harvests.

Production coconuts in El Salvador

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of coconuts, 2018-2021

World map of production of coconuts, 2018-2021

After a two-year decline, El Salvador's coconut production rebounded in 2021, reaching 62.7 thousand tons. This represented a modest 8.6% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 47.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 19.4%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2020 at 57.7 thousand tons, with the sharpest drop occurring in 2019 when production decreased by 40.4%.

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

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Following a two-year downturn, coconut production in El Salvador saw an upturn in 2021, with output valued at 156.2 million US dollars. This marked a 23.4% year-over-year increase. Over the 2018-2021 period, production value declined by 26%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of -9.5%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 126.6 million US dollars, while the most significant decline happened in 2019 with a 36.8% drop.

Annual dynamics of production in El Salvador in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Exports coconuts from El Salvador

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period, with export levels fluctuating 2.1 times between the high in 2021 and the low in 2020. In 2021, El Salvador's coconut export volume reached 77 tons, showing a substantial gain of 108.0% compared to 2020. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 37 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 45.4% that year.

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

From 2018 to 2021, coconut exports from El Salvador were almost entirely concentrated in the United States, which accounted for 92.6% of the total volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over the period, with a 2.4-fold variation between the maximum in 2021 and the minimum in 2020. In 2021, coconut deliveries from El Salvador totaled 192.7 thousand US dollars, representing a rise of 136.3% year-over-year. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 81.5 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 36.0% that year.

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

Throughout 2018-2021, the United States dominated El Salvador's coconut exports in value terms, concentrating 82.5% of the total. The remaining volume was distributed among many countries, each with smaller individual shares.

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

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

Imports coconuts to El Salvador

Imports in kind, t

The market displayed signs of volatility during the observed period, with imports peaking in 2019 and bottoming in 2018, differing by a factor of 4.1. In 2021, El Salvador imported 1 323 tons of coconuts, showing a significant rise of 24.1% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 4 008 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 306.7%. The largest decline occurred in 2020 with a 73.4% drop.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Guatemala was the almost exclusive supplier of coconuts to El Salvador, accounting for 92.4% of total imports in volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2021, El Salvador imported approximately 368.3 thousand US dollars worth of coconuts, representing a 36.7% year-over-year rise. However, over the 2018-2021 period, imports decreased by 6.2%, equating to an annualized rate of -2.1%. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 269.4 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2019 at 407.5 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2020 with a 33.9% drop.

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

From 2018 to 2021, three main markets—the Philippines, Guatemala, and the United States—together absorbed 89.3% of the total value of coconut imports to El Salvador.

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

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