By June, El Salvador exported $3,439.29 million worth of goods and services, according to a Central Bank (BCR) report.
Among the areas benefiting the most from remittances from abroad is the department of San Salvador with $821.7 million, up 20.4 percent from the same period in 2022.
BCR data shows a 5.2 percent increase in amounts transferred compared to the same period last year when they were $3,820.2 million, a difference of $199.5 million.
The US remained the largest issuer with 3,744.5 million (93 percent) of transactions in the first half of this year, followed at a distance by Canada with $37.3 million and Spain with $21.1 million.
When it comes to exports, the BCR statistics show that the supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning grew by 275.6 percent to a total of 45.9 million during this period.
Food exports during the period were up 11.2 percent to 606.13 million and sugar exports up 10.13 percent to just over 164 million products sold.
In the case of coffee, the contribution was 106.2 million, equivalent to 466.45 quintals at a price of 227.72, a value that experts say could increase if the free trade agreement with China is signed.
The main destination for Salvadoran exports was the United States with $1.26 billion, although Central American countries overall received the most products from this country.
The BCR also reported that in the same period, the first half of 2023, import volume increased to 7,786.27 million, showing a notorious imbalance between what is bought and what is sold.
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