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El Salvador continues to sweeten the different international markets. Only in January of this year, it exported $53.2 million to different markets in the world, which reflected a growth of 93.9%, according to data from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).

The positive trade figures are possible thanks to the fact that in recent years the country has become one of the main producers and distributors of sugar in the world, also positioning itself as the second largest producer and exporter of sugar and molasses in Central America, and the number one in industrial productivity and efficiency among the region’s mills.

In addition to the good performance of the sector, the president of the Sugar Association of El Salvador (AAES), Mario Salaverria, assured that North America, South America, Asia, and Europe, as well as the Caribbean and Oceania, are the main destinations for sugar exports. ; However, the union continues its search for new markets.

«During January we had a good month, as we exported around $53.2 million in sugar and around three ships were loaded with destinations to China and the United States. We have also had the benefit that international prices have improved significantly and substantially due to the sugar deficit in the world and that benefits us because we are net exporters,” said the union representative.

Salaverria explained that prices have been between $0.23 and $0.24 per pound, while the quintal, in January, was sold at $28.61, maintaining a stable trend.

On the other hand, he reported that for the 2023/2024 harvest, the sector plans to produce 6.5 million metric tons of sugar cane, 740,000 tons of sugar and 260,000 tons of molasses.

He also highlighted that the sugar agroindustry contributes 2.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and generates more than 50,000 direct jobs and about 200,000 indirect jobs.

In addition, he commented that, in the last 20 years, the industry has grown by 4% in the area cultivated with sugarcane, going from 77,000 hectares to 80,000 currently. In cane production there is a participation of 31% and 67% in sugar production.

Alliances between sectors

As part of the revitalization of the agricultural sectors, the AAES together with the Coffee Association of El Salvador (Acafesal), and the vice president Félix Ulloa, held a meeting yesterday to present agroecological products in sugar cane, an initiative that coffee growers already execute.

The president of Acafesal, Sergio Ticas, indicated that they have seen the result with the implementation of these products that have allowed profitability in the production and decontamination of the soil.

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