El Salvador-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $2.30B total volume •El Salvador deficit: $2.30B

El SalvadorChina

$0

Exports (2023)

ChinaEl Salvador

$2.30B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$2.30B

Deficit for El Salvador

Total Trade

$2.30B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between El Salvador and China. Green line shows exports from El Salvador, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the El Salvador-China commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

El SalvadorChina Exports

$0
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
Infinity% top product
1Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted
$5.87M
Infinity% of exports
2Copper: waste and scrap
$1.60M
Infinity% of exports
3Aluminium: waste and scrap
$1.57M
Infinity% of exports
4Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$1.21M
Infinity% of exports
5T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of textile materials (other than cotton), knitted or crocheted
$713,043
Infinity% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

El Salvador's export portfolio to China demonstrates strategic specialization, with jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

ChinaEl Salvador Imports

$2.30B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
5.4% concentration
1Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$124.75M
5.4% of imports
2Poly(ethylene terephthalate): in primary forms, having a viscosity of 78ml/g or higher
$79.10M
3.4% of imports
3Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
$78.69M
3.4% of imports
4Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus
$53.50M
2.3% of imports
5Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds
$48.56M
2.1% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

El Salvador's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

El Salvador demonstrates competitive strength in exportingjerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted to China, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $2.30B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: El Salvador-China Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $2.30 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: El Salvador maintains a deficit of $2.30 billion
  • Export Focus: El Salvador's primary exports include jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted, copper: waste and scrap, aluminium: waste and scrap
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from China include telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, poly(ethylene terephthalate): in primary forms, having a viscosity of 78ml/g or higher, automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $2.30B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with El Salvador leveraging its comparative advantages in jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

El Salvador's specialization in jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crochetedcomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $2.30B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $2.30B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $2.30 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted and telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

El Salvador's trade deficit of $2.30 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in copper: waste and scrap present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between El Salvador and China represents a total trade volume of $2.30 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for El Salvador, with imports exceeding exportsby $2.30 billion.

Export Strengths

El Salvador's exports to China total $0.00, with competitive advantages in jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted, representing $5.87M orInfinity% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from China amount to $2.30 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, with Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks comprising5.4% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates El Salvador's strategic sourcing from China. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between El Salvador and China in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023