Salted, brined, dried or smoked pork market in El Salvador

Earlier Report Observations

The market for salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork in El Salvador showed considerable volatility between 2018 and 2023. After starting at 369.5 t in 2018, market volume contracted sharply to 257.8 t by 2020. This decline was primarily driven by longstanding structural limitations in national livestock farming, including low technological advancement and high production costs that constrained local supply. The swine sector faced a crisis due to rising input prices, leading to farm closures and increased reliance on imports. A slight recovery to 340.1 t occurred in 2021, but market volume fell again to 201.1 t by 2023, reflecting persistent domestic production weaknesses and a retail market highly concentrated in a few chains, which limited competition and affected consumer prices.

Throughout the period, authorities and industry actors implemented campaigns to promote pork consumption and counter negative perceptions about the product. By 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock was evaluating the entry of meat products from Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay to diversify import sources and reduce dependency risks, particularly on Nicaragua as the strategic supplier. These efforts aimed to stabilize supply, though the market remained heavily import-dependent due to the national production deficit.

In later years, additional pressures emerged. Climate change, especially in the dry corridor, began affecting livestock production and feed costs, further challenging the sector's competitiveness. In 2024, the Superintendency of Competition initiated a study to assess conditions in the beef market, aiming to promote competition, which could have indirect implications for the pork segment. Significant meat price increases were also reported, fueled by inflationary pressures and import dependency, continuing to shape market accessibility and consumption patterns.

Production salted, brined, dried or smoked pork in El Salvador

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of salted, brined, dried or smoked pork, 2018-2021

World map of production of salted, brined, dried or smoked pork, 2018-2021

In 2021, El Salvador produced 368.6 tons of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork, marking a solid 12.3% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production grew by 6.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.0%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2020 at 328.1 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 5.7%.

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

In value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In 2021, the output value of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork in El Salvador reached 1,705 thousand US dollars, showing a dramatic 35.7% rise compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, production value increased by 49.7%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 14.4%. The largest decline occurred in 2020, with a drop of 6.5%.

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

Exports salted, brined, dried or smoked pork from El Salvador

Exports in kind, t

El Salvador's exports of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork have grown for the third year in a row. In 2021, export volume amounted to 190.4 tons, up by 8.6% year-over-year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports surged by 67.4%, with an average annual increase of 18.7%.

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

From 2018 to 2021, Honduras and Guatemala were the two main destinations for El Salvador's exports of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork in volume terms. Honduras accounted for 87.3% of total flows, while Guatemala made up 12.7%, together representing 100.0% of exports.

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

El Salvador's exports of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, export value reached 881 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic 31.2% year-over-year rise. From 2018 to 2021, exports grew by 136.1%, with an annualized rate of 33.1%.

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

Between 2018 and 2021, Honduras and Guatemala were the principal buyers of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork from El Salvador in value terms, together accounting for 100.0% of total exports.

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 salted, brined, dried or smoked pork to El Salvador

Imports in kind, t

In 2021, El Salvador imported 161.9 tons of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork, representing a 54.3% increase year-over-year. From 2018 to 2021, imports rose by 18.9%, with an average annual growth of 6.0%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2020 at 105.0 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 27.0%.

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

During 2018–2021, the United States was the dominant source for El Salvador's imports of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork in volume terms, absorbing 79.7% of total imports, while the rest came from various smaller destinations.

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

After a two-year decline, El Salvador's imports of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork rebounded in 2021, reaching 1,186 thousand US dollars, up by 63.3% compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, imports increased by 25.5%, with an annualized rate of 7.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 727 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 16.6%.

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

Throughout 2018–2021, the United States and Spain were the primary suppliers of salted, brined, dried, or smoked pork to El Salvador in value terms, together holding a 95.1% share of total imports, with other countries making up the remainder.

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

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