In 2024, China became the second most important supplier of the Salvadoran market, with sales exceeding 2,423.2 million dollars from January to November, 16.6 percent of all purchases by El Salvador.
That volume of purchases, however, increased the trade imbalance since Salvadoran exports barely reached 52.2 million dollars, according to data from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).
The Asian giant occupies only 10th place where local productions are directed among 50 countries, a space headed by the United States and the Central American neighbors.
The large influx of Chinese products, of all kinds, are present today in various corners from the Historic Center of San Salvador, to Santa Elena and in nearby Santa Tecla, in the department of La Libertad.
From China come vehicles, technological equipment, toys, machinery for industry, fertilizers, plastic and its manufactures, jewelry, iron, among other key raw materials in the production processes or for consumption, which flood the Salvadoran market with offers of sometimes unbeatable prices.
The emergence of Chinese businesses takes place with the reorganization of the Historic Center carried out by the Mayor’s Office of San Salvador Centro, which also allowed the entry of recognized brands such as Hotel Cardedeu, McDonald’s, LlaoLlao, Mike Mike, Starbucks, among others, according to local media.
Each Chinese business has a distinctive feature in its products, some are more dedicated to the marketing of stationery while others are located in buildings of up to three levels where they offer everything from underwear to large cleaning equipment, indicated a report from the newspaper El Mundo.
BCR statistics indicate that Chinese investment accounted for 12 percent of the 387.4 million accumulated in the third quarter of 2024.
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