The manufacturing industry, including maquilas, accounted for 96% of total exports, and closed with an annual growth rate of almost 4%, equivalent to $130 million.
From a statement issued by the Central Reserve Bank:
Exports of goods from El Salvador amounted to US $3.5596 billion between January and July 2018, higher by US $124.5 million compared to the same period in 2017, the Central Reserve Bank reported.
In the first quarter of the year, imports of yarns and textile supplies in Central America totaled $127 million, registering a 10% drop compared to the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Information System on the Textiles and Textile Supplies Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
The sector's union says that the strategy focused on producing fabrics and yarns for export is already paying off, and they intend to continue in order to become the region's main supplier.
According to the Chamber of the Textile, Clothing and Free Trade Zone (Camtex), exports of raw materials from El Salvador have grown considerably in the last two years, as between 2016 and 2017 sales increased from $60,000 to $1.2 million.
According to the textile industry union, half of the $2.6 billion exported in 2017 corresponded to pullover sweaters, cotton t-shirts, cotton briefs, synthetic fiber t-shirts and synthetic socks.
The Chamber of Textile, Clothing and Free Trade Zones of El Salvador (Camtex) reported that in 2017 the sector exported $2.617 million worth of clothes, $95 million more than was reported in 2016, which is equivalent to an interannual increase of 3.8%.
The textile guild has stated that 2017 closed with $2.6 billion in exports and an increase of almost 4%, and for this year it plans to achieve similar growth.
The Chamber of the Textile, Clothing and Free Trade Zone (Camtex) exported $2.617 billion during the past year, $95 million more than the value of exports registered in the previous year.
In 2017 exports totaled $5,760 million, 6% more than in 2017, and sales of clothing and sugar were the ones that accounted for most of the increase.
Sales in the Central American region, including Panama, constituted the second largest destination for Salvadoran exports, amounting to $2.403 billion, also registering an increase of 6% compared to 2016.
The Textile Industry Association reported a reduction of almost $17 million in value exported in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Figures from the Chamber of Textile, Apparel and Free Trade Zones (Camtex) indicate that exports from January to April totaled $816 million, down from $833 million exported in the same period in 2016.
In 2016, the value of imported yarns and textile raw materials in the region amounted to $328 million, equivalent to 89 thousand tons, 6% more than the volume purchased in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Yarns and Textiles materials, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
In the first half of the year sales of textiles and clothing totaled $1.247 billion, with a noteworthy annual increase of 21% in exports of textiles.
Data from the Chamber of Textiles, Clothing and Free Zones of El Salvador (Camtex) indicates that "... textile exports totaled $155 million, 21% more than in the first half of 2014, while ready-made apparel reached $1.092 million, up 5%. "
In the remainder of the year Nicaragua will only take advantage of 30% of the eight million pieces of textiles that the EU has assigned it, meaning that sales will be worth just $2 million.
Dean Garcia, executive director of the Nicaraguan Association of the Textile and Apparel Industry, explained that with one quarter of the year left it will be difficult for Nicaraguan firms to find new European customers.
During the first six months of 2013 the textile industry sold $1,140 million, $104 million more compared to the same period in 2012.
"The industry has performed well, and that means more jobs in El Salvador," said Doris de Rivera, an economist in charge of the study by the Chamber of Textile, Clothing and Free Zones Companies(CAMTEX).
According to the economist, the maquila subsector grew by 4% with revenues of $424 million, woven fabrics increased 22% with sales of $134 million and garment production rose by 9%.
In January 2013 maquila exports totalled $81.5 million, 16.5% higher than that recorded in the same month of 2012.
A statement from the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador reads:
Exports of El Salvador: U.S. $478.0 million in January 2013
In January 2013, exports from El Salvador reached $478.0 million, up from the $29.3 million recorded in the same month of 2012, an increase of 6.5% annually.
With a 4% increase in exports in 2012 compared to the previous year, the textile industry remains the main pillar of foreign trade in El Salvador.
Revenue from sales from the textile industry in El Salvador during 2012 totaled $2.1965 billion, $73.4 million more than in 2011.
Elmundo.com.sv reports that "In recent years, the textile and clothing sector has maintained an upward trend in foreign sales, to the point where exports account for 48% of the country’s total, stressed the Chamber of the Textile, Clothing and Free Zones of El Salvador (Camtex). "
From January to September this year the Salvadoran textile and clothing sector exported $792.4 million, 6.7% less than in the same period in 2011.
Elsalvador.com reports that "The production of textiles and clothing lost momentum in growth between January and September compared to the same period last year due to a slowdown in the U.S. economy and the fiscal crisis in Europe .
Textile exports to the United States reported at the end of 2011 an increase of 25%, with the largest exporter being Honduras, followed by El Salvador.
Marisa Mont, a technician at the Economic Integration Secretariat, outlined the results, "Recovery begins from 2010 and is growing exponentially. This demonstrates an upward trend and that clearly is going to continue, although it is probably not going to keep growing by 25%, but it is an uptrend.