Surveys indicate that 65 percent of the Salvadoran population estimates that the economy is their main concern, and the effects are expected to be felt in merchandise exports and imports.

“Of course (the protests) will have an impact, it will not be so strong, but they will have an impact,” said Silva Cuéllar, president of the Salvadoran Exporters Corporation (Coexport).

Guatemala, which is the second country that exports the most to El Salvador after the United States, has been experiencing intense days of protests, since October, due to the interference of the Public Ministry in the results of the presidential elections, which left Bernardo Arévalo the winner.

Protests also began in Panama as a measure of pressure before the approval of a mining contract between the Panamanian Government and the Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals (FQM), with road blockades that prevented the movement of Salvadoran transports loaded with goods.

Cuéllar explained to the Salvadoran businessmen that they could not meet the delivery dates due to these circulation problems; however, the union foresees a recovery and normalization of shipments. “Little by little it will move and normalize over time,” she said.

Regarding Panama, she explained that the greatest impact is caused by purchases of materials that exporters acquire, and stated that some companies changed their routes so as not to be harmed by the obstacles in the maritime route.

These crises occur in the midst of a drop in Salvadoran exports, derived, especially, from the decrease in requiring products from the United States, which also has an internal impact. Despite a decline in inflation, the country recorded a 2.11% rising price in November.

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