Browse Data and Analysis

This report offers U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products valuable insights on conducting business in Panama. In 2024, exports of U.S. agricultural and related products to Panama reached approximately $942.6 million.

In 2024, U.S. agricultural exports to El Salvador totaled $888 million, a 3 percent increase from 2023.

Changes to Panama's import requirements reflected in this report are for pork, dairy products, seafood and rice. A new law establishes the inspections and food safety regulations for food products.

Panama recognizes the certificates and standards of the U.S. regulatory and sanitary inspection system, based on the United States – Panama Agreement regarding certain Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures and Technical Standards affecting Trade in Agricultural products, of December 20, 2006, simplifying requirements for the importation of U.S. food and feed products. Panama accepts electronic certificates.

El Salvador’s coffee production is expected to reach 561,000 sixty-kilogram-bags in marketing year (MY) 2024/25. The sector continues to face challenges from climate vulnerability and the absence of a long-term strategy.

Sugar production in El Salvador is forecast to reach 740,000 metric tons (MT) in marketing year (MY) 2025/26, with MY 2024/25 estimates revised down to 706,000 MT.

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the Food Processing industry in Panama. It is primarily a service – based economy, but food processing is one of its top industries.

On January 14, 2025, the Panamanian Food Agency (APA) and the Ministry of Health of Panama confirmed that the dairy plants registration process has been significantly expedited, resolving a trade barrier created on July 17, 2023.

Although Panama highlighted the use of biotechnology in its Agricultural State Policy Law 352 of 2023, Panama has not yet established the implementing regulations of Law 48 of 2002, which created the National Commission of Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms.

This report outlines how U.S. food and agriculture exporters engage with the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector in Panama. This sector plays a vital role in Panama's economy and is driven by international tourism.

By the end of 2023, El Salvador's hotel and restaurant sectors showed strong growth, reflecting the full recovery of its tourism industry. According to the latest Euromonitor data, Salvadorans spent $2.6 billion in the hotels and catering sector in 2023.

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.