"The sector is counting on productivity, for which the mills with cane growers have invested in new technologies and farming methods in order to increase efficiency and productivity," said Mario Salaverria, president of the Sugar Association (AESA ).

"This activity is considered to be the heart of the economy of many municipalities, not only because it is one of the main sources of employment generation, but because of the multiplier effect in several economic sectors," said Julio Arroyo, executive director of AAES .

Source: elmundo.com.sv

More on this topic

El Salvador: 15% Less Sugar

August 2015

Because of the drought a reduction of between 12% and 15% has been estimated in the 2015/16 harvest, which could be partly offset if a better industrial performance is achieved.

Producers believe that in addition to a better industrial performance, another factor that would help to offset the decline in production is the provision that banks have to provide refinancing options or "...

El Salvador: Reduced Sugar Harvest

April 2014

Projected production for the period 2013-2014 will be 5% lower than the previous harvest, which reached 16.7 million quintals.

Moisture problems that have affected crops reduced total sugar production to a lower level than initially projected by producers.

"We have had excess moisture, which has not allowed the sugar cane to concentrate efficiently," said Mario Salaverría to elsalvador.com.

Upward Trend in Salvadoran Sugar Production

November 2011

Improved agricultural practices and an increase in cultivated areas has generated a 30% increase in production over the past ten years.

Projections for 2011-2012 are for a harvest of 13.6 million bushels, 30% higher than the 10.7 million bushels harvested in 2000-2001.

Price-wise, at the beginning of the decade a pound traded at $0.08, whereas today it has climbed to $0.25.

Salvadoran Sugar Production Down 10%

March 2011

The current harvest will yield an approximate 12.5 million quintals of sugar.

The sector had estimated a total production of 13.75 million quintals but the lower results are due to climate factors.

The president of the Sugar Association of El Salvador, Mario Ernesto Salaverria, told Elsalvador.com that "...