# Central America export rebound, deficit & property surge > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/central-american-export-rebound-2026 > Updated: 2026-08-03T21:10:15.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 5. Mid‑2026 saw a broad rebound in Central American external trade. Guatemala’s textile and apparel sector led a 7 % export rise after a 2024 decline, while Panama rebounded 44.9 % and Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador posted double‑digit gains, driven by demand from Japan, South Korea, the United States and the EU. El Salvador’s exports grew 4 % in value to US$3.401 billion and 10 % in volume, reaching 16 markets with coffee, medicines and industrial goods at the forefront. Despite the upturn, imports accelerated, widening the first‑half trade deficit to a record US$5.92 billion and intensifying fiscal and debt pressures. Remittances from the United States remain a vital income source. Guatemala’s fuel import bill jumped almost 30 % by May, adding about US$601 million as crude prices rose 60 % and import volumes rose 7 %; a temporary diesel and gasoline subsidy introduced in April expired in early May. The agricultural sector warned of climate‑related risks, including a potential grain‑production shortfall and El Niño impacts on smallholder farms. The housing market continued its sharp price surge: average price per square metre climbed from US$124 in 2016 to US$276 in 2026 (a 123 % rise), and average property values rose from roughly US$16 000 to US$30 600, with transaction volume up 13 % in 2025 despite flat sales numbers. El Salvador also diversified its export base: 101 products entered 43 new economies, setting records in 16 markets. Top destinations were Guatemala (US$662 million), Mexico (US$145 million) and Morocco (US$21 million), with chemicals, machinery, information technology and textiles among the most dynamic sectors. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: El Salvador export earnings hit $3.4 billion in first half of 2026 El Salvador’s exports rose 4 % in value to US$3.401 billion in H1 2026, with 101 products entering 43 new markets; top buyers were Guatemala, Mexico and Morocco. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-salvador-export-earnings-hit-34-billion-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-08-01: El Salvador sees export growth, widening trade deficit and soaring property prices El Salvador’s exports rose to US$3.4 bn in H1 2026, yet a widening trade deficit persists; property prices have more than doubled since 2016. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-salvadors-coffee-exports-surge-as-the-united-states-buys-62-of-h1-2026-shipments ### 2026-07-29: El Salvador posts record first‑half trade deficit since 1994 as coffee exports hit 13‑year high El Salvador’s first‑half 2026 trade deficit hits $5.9 bn, the biggest since 1994, while coffee export revenue jumps 26% to $147 mn, led by the United States. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-salvador-posts-record-firsthalf-trade-deficit-since-1994-as-coffee-exports-hit-13year-high ### 2026-07-27: El Salvador export value rises 4% in first half of 2026 El Salvador's exports grew 4.1% to $3.4 bn in H1 2026, driven by textiles and sugar, with the United States as the main market. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-salvador-export-value-rises-4-in-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-18: Guatemala sees export growth amid regional trade shifts and fuel price surge Guatemala’s exports grew in 2026 while its fuel import bill rose 30 %, driven by higher crude prices and regional trade shifts. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guatemala-sees-export-growth-amid-regional-trade-shifts-and-fuel-price-surge --- Cite as: Central America export rebound, deficit & property surge. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/central-american-export-rebound-2026