Browse Data and Analysis

The legal and regulatory situation to allow the planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops in Ecuador remains the same as 2023. Commercial cultivation of GE crops is not permitted, however cultivation for research is allowed and an exception exists for GE products without recombinant or foreign DNA in the genome.

On October 1, 2019, El Salvador agreed to harmonize the biosafety technical regulation for “modified living organisms” for agricultural use with Guatemala and Honduras and designated the Ministry of Agriculture as the National Competent Authority to provide authorizations and keep registries related to biotechnology.

This report provides examples of the significant export certificates and other documents required by the government of El Salvador for U.S. exports of food and agricultural products.

Since August 7, 2024, the Superintendence for Sanitary Regulation has been responsible for food and beverage product registration in El Salvador.

In 2023, U.S. agriculture exports to El Salvador reached $860 million, a slight drop of 12 percent compared to 2022 due mainly to lower wheat and oil seeds imports. However, the consumer-oriented products category saw a promising increase from $349 million to $364 million, marking a 4.4 percent growth.

This report identifies Ecuador’s import requirements for foreign export certificates, highlighting current procedures and identifying the relevant local agencies with oversight over these issues.

This report outlines Ecuador’s requirements for food and agricultural product imports. It is a guide to the regulations that exporters need to consider in order for their products to enter the Ecuadorian market.

This report serves as a road map for U.S. companies exporting to Ecuador. While Ecuador is a challenging market for U.S. food and agricultural products, it is also one of opportunities. Domestic production cannot meet consumer demand, necessitating continued imports.

El Salvador's coffee production is expected to reach 555,000 sixty-kg-bags in marketing year (MY) 2023/24. The Salvadoran coffee sector continues to be affected by climate vulnerability and an absent long-term strategy.

Ecuador's sugar production in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast to recover to 530,000 metric tons (MT), the same as the MY 2022/23 estimate, due to a rebound in harvested area after a difficult El Nino weather cycle during the second half of 2023.

Despite continued economic, security and political constraints, U.S. – Ecuador bilateral agricultural and related product trade rose to $4.4 billion in 2023. In addition, U.S. agricultural and related product exports to Ecuador reached a record $805.6 million.

Sugar production in marketing year (MY) 24 is estimated at 787,000 metric tons (MT), while production for MY23 reached 765,000 MT. Continued international prices have eased the financial burden exerted by the high cost of inputs on the sugar sector.