El Salvador - Country Commercial Guide
Market Opportunities

Overview of best prospect sectors, major infrastructure projects, significant government procurements and business opportunities.

Last published date: 2021-11-04

Best prospects for U.S. exports based on trade statistics, market analysis and interest from U.S. companies include: Agricultural Products, Automotive, Design & Construction Services, Medical Equipment, Information Communications & Technology, Safety & Security Equipment, Energy, Education, Travel and Tourism, Plastics, and Packaging Machinery.

Additionally, the government of El Salvador has identified various infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, hospitals, waste and treatment facilities, ports and airports, and logistics infrastructure. Other opportunities exist in nine growth sectors: specialized textiles and apparel, offshore business services, tourism, aeronautics, agro-industry, medical devices, light manufacturing, logistic and infrastructural networks, and healthcare services.

El Salvador’s economy remains heavily dependent on the United States. The United States supports several whole-of-government lines of effort to help increase trade and bolster Salvadoran economic development, thereby mitigating the negative effects of high unemployment and lack of employment opportunity, especially for new entrants to the workforce. One of these ongoing programs is Deal Team, an interagency effort led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, to bring forward all of the U.S. tools and sources of funding to assist U.S. companies in remaining competitive in the region, leveling the playing field against other nations’ companies which are often overtly supported by their governments, and ensuring adequate support in areas including development of feasibility studies, export credit assistance, Government-to-Government Advocacy support, and funding.