Market research

Sweet potatoe market in El Salvador

Release date: Mar 27, 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 to 2019, the sweet potato market in El Salvador saw a slight increase in volume from 1 031 t to 1 039 t. During this period, the national agricultural technology center CENTA propagated and distributed vegetative material for two improved sweet potato varieties, CENTA-Masahuat and CENTA-San Pedro, to boost domestic production and support farming families. These efforts, which included purple-skinned varieties with commercial potential, helped maintain stable annual production around 760‑773 t.

Market volume then fluctuated between 2020 and 2023, falling to 988 t in 2020 before rising sharply to 1 103 t in 2021 and reaching 1 157 t in 2022, then easing to 1 131 t in 2023. These swings were largely driven by import volumes, which dropped to 228 t in 2020 then surged to 339 t in 2021 and 390 t in 2022. Domestic production remained steady at 760‑766 t throughout the four years.

In 2024, the government launched Agromercados nationwide to improve access to fresh produce like sweet potatoes at fair prices, aiming to shield families from traditional market price hikes. By 2025, El Salvador further opened its market to agricultural imports, especially from the United States, which may increase competition. At the same time, new processed sweet potato products entered the market, such as pre-cut sweet potatoes sold by Kip, and Walmart El Salvador began offering fresh sweet potatoes online, reflecting diversification in supply and distribution channels.

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 sweet potatoe in El Salvador

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, El Salvador produced 764.6 t of sweet potato, marking a slight increase of 0.6% compared to 2020. Production peaked in 2019 at 773.4 t, which represented the largest annual increase of 1.8%. The most significant decline occurred in 2020, with a drop of 1.7%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.8%	(1.7%)	0.6%	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sweet potatoe from El Salvador

Exports in kind, t

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	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Guatemala and Panama together accounted for 100.0% of El Salvador's total sweet potato exports in kind, highlighting a highly concentrated export market.

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

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

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

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout the 2018–2021 period, Guatemala and Panama continued to be the primary destinations for El Salvador's sweet potato exports in value terms, jointly representing 100.0% of total export 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 sweet potatoe to El Salvador

Imports in kind, t

After declining for two consecutive years, El Salvador's sweet potato imports rebounded in 2021. Imports reached 338.6 t, a substantial 48.8% increase from the previous year. Over the 2018–2021 period, imports grew by 24.8%, averaging an annualized growth rate of 7.7%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2020 at 227.6 t, which also saw the largest annual decline of 14.3%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.1%)	(14.3%)	48.8%	7.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Guatemala and Honduras were the two main sources for El Salvador's sweet potato imports in kind, together accounting for 99.8% of total import 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

In 2021, El Salvador's sweet potato imports from abroad totaled 87 787 US dollars, surging by 57.4% compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, import value increased by 87.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 23.3%. The most significant decline occurred in 2020, dropping by 10.6%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	33.1%	(10.6%)	57.4%	23.3%

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2018–2021 period, Guatemala was the dominant source for sweet potato imports to El Salvador in value terms, representing 85.0% of total imports, while other destinations played a much smaller role.

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