Browse Data and Analysis

El Salvador’s food manufacturing sector has been able to successfully adapt to a challenging environment and has provided signals of a rapid recovery, despite facing a continuous crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain shortages that increased the costs of raw materials and other inputs needed to produce food.

After a major decrease in 2022, Ukraine’s cattle and swine population is expected to decline further in 2023. Although some war-related factors have already had their negative impact, the refugee crisis, disposable income drops, and a weakened economy are expected to depress livestock sector development further.

Although it initially decreased after the war began, Ukraine’s chicken meat production remained stable in 2022. The production was impacted by significant cost increases predominately associated with more expensive trade logistics and a turbulent macroeconomic environment.

El Salvador is the only country in the Northern Triangle region, and the only country in Central America aside from Panama, that runs a trade deficit for agricultural commodities.

Ukrainian poultry products were approved for export to the Canadian market as Ukrainian and Canadian regulators signed a bilateral veterinary certificate for poultry and processed poultry products in November 2022.

Ukraine is in a full-scale war after Russia invades in February 2022. Imports of agricultural products from the U.S. are expected to drop by almost one-third in 2022. A decrease in consumer purchasing power and a focus on cheaper product tiers pushes U.S. imports into the high-end segment.

El Salvador’s imports of agricultural products from the United States experienced an outstanding rebound of 31% during 2021, reaching a total of $828 million. A constant influx of remittances and the gradual recovery of the hotel/restaurant sector have been determining factors contributing to a higher demand for imported foods.

This report is intended to capture the estimated changes in the trade of major grains for marketing year (MY)2022/23 resulting from the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for the next 120 days at the end of November 2022. MY2022/23 corn production estimates were updated as well.

The biotechnology regulatory system in Ukraine is still not fully developed, but the country is gradually adjusting its domestic policies to align with the European Union’s regulations. Agricultural biotechnology is a disputed item in Ukraine. Currently, no GE events are officially approved for agricultural and food production.

There is no legal impediment to the use of biotechnology in El Salvador. Genetically engineered (GE) corn field trials were successfully completed. Also, the Ministry of Environment completed the regulatory framework for the safe use and commercialization of GE products. A new government administration that took office in June 2019, has shown interest in biotechnology and how it can help advance agricultural competitiveness in El Salvador.

This report contains Post’s production estimates for marketing year (MY) 2022/23, as well as final export numbers for MY2021/22. Production is down sharply as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact on agriculture. Domestic consumption for all grains (both feed and food) went down as a combination of migration out of the country, decreased disposable incomes, and destroyed animal production facilities in the areas of military activity.

Dairy cow inventory is expected to decrease significantly in 2022. The decrease is driven by a war-related economic downturn, direct animal losses in war-affected areas and a historic reduction in less-efficient animals. Fluid milk and dairy product outputs are expected to drop notably in 2022. The decline will continue in 2023 due to the reduced animal number and continued war-related economic downturn.