Weekly Report - 16 February 2012 (WR-12-07)

EL SALVADOR | Trade deficit. El Salvador’s trade deficit grew 20.3% in 2011 compared with the previous year, closing at US$4.8bn, according to a recent report by the Central Bank (BCR). Exports grew 18% to US$5.3bn with traditional products such as coffee (US$464m), sugar (US$132m) and shrimp (US$800,000) accounting for some 11% of the total. Imports grew 19% to US$10.1bn, driven in part by a 26% rise in oil imports which reached US$1.7bn.