Market research

Not defatted cocoa paste market in El Salvador

Release date: Mar 29, 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

From 2018, the not defatted cocoa paste market in El Salvador benefited from international initiatives, including a processing plant established with Italian support that worked with over 30 local producers to manufacture intermediate products like cocoa paste. This infrastructure boost, coupled with producers obtaining certifications such as Rainforest Alliance to access premium markets, helped lift market volume to 1 094 t by 2019.

Market volume dipped to 984 t in 2020 but rebounded to 1 092 t in 2021. The recovery was driven by increased exports of fine aroma cocoa to gourmet markets in Europe and the United States, where a focus on food safety and sanitary permits allowed Salvadoran processors to meet international demand. Producers adopted more entrepreneurial approaches with accounting and marketing models to enhance competitiveness.

After 2021, market volume declined, reaching 983 t in 2023. This decrease coincided with a persistent shortage of cocoa beans in the country, which constrained paste production despite ongoing efforts to promote quality through national contests and El Salvador's growing reputation as a reliable supplier in the fine cocoa segment.

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, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in value, 2018-2025, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from El Salvador by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ 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 not defatted cocoa paste in El Salvador

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of not defatted cocoa paste, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of not defatted cocoa paste, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, El Salvador's production of not defatted cocoa paste reached its lowest point at 985 tonnes, declining by 9.7% from the previous year. However, production rebounded in 2021, increasing by 10.8% to 1,091 tonnes.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.5%	(9.7%)	10.8%	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports not defatted cocoa paste from El Salvador

Exports in kind, kg

The market displayed volatility during the observed period. Exports bottomed out in 2020 at 451 kg, which represented an 80.0% year-on-year decrease. In contrast, exports peaked in 2019 at 2,250 kg, marking a substantial 227.7% increase from the previous year. The difference between these peak and trough years was fivefold.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	227.7%	(80.0%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Czechia and the United States formed a highly concentrated pair of markets for El Salvador's exports of not defatted cocoa paste in kind, together accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

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, $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations throughout the period. Exports reached their trough in 2018 and peaked in 2019 at $27,650 US, representing a 609.9% increase from the previous year. In 2020, exports declined to $5,770 US, a 79.1% drop year-on-year. The variation between the 2018 low and 2019 high was 7.1-fold.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	609.9%	(79.1%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018–2021, El Salvador's exports of not defatted cocoa paste in value terms were almost entirely concentrated in Czechia, which held a 94.9% share.

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 not defatted cocoa paste to El Salvador

Imports in kind, kg

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their lowest point in 2021 and peaked in 2019, with a 5.5-fold difference between these years. In 2021, El Salvador imported 1,012 kg of not defatted cocoa paste, indicating a dramatic 83.7% rise from 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to El Salvador in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	83.7%	n/a	n/a	(30.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Ecuador was by far the main source for El Salvador's imports of not defatted cocoa paste in kind, accounting for 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, $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Imports bottomed out in 2021 and peaked in 2019, with a fivefold variation between these extremes. In 2021, El Salvador imported $4,207 US worth of not defatted cocoa paste, amounting to a 78.4% increase compared to the previous year.

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