In 2023, plants located in El Salvador exported more than $186.7 million on toilet paper, with a 46 percent stake in the Latin American market.
El Salvador was the main supplier of toilet paper in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023, with more than $186.7 million exported, revealed a report by the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI).
The report, presented in the framework of the Exporters Ranking, prepared by the ISA 14 years ago, highlights that El Salvador covered 46 percent of the $406.2 million demanded on toilet paper by households in Latin America and the Caribbean at the end of 2023.
Guatemala is the second most prominent supplier in the Latin American region, with exports exceeding $117.7 million, a 29 percent stake. Third is Brazil, with $31.4 million (7.7 percent); followed by Mexico with $21.1 million (5.2 percent) and Peru with $16.1 million (4 %).
The paper, cardboard and graphic arts sector is one of the heavyweights in the manufacturing industry, with more than $419.6 million of exports at the end of 2023, of which 44.7 per cent corresponds to toilet paper alone.
Exports fell by $30.5 million, or 6.8 percent, from $450.1 million in 2022. However, they are above the values recorded before the pandemic, when they were $354.2 million in 2019.
The second most exported product by the sector in 2023 corresponds to corrugated paper and cardboard boxes, with a participation of 15.7 %, followed by handkerchiefs, make-up wipes and towels, with a 5.4 % quota.
Exports of toilet paper grew by 1.6 per cent compared to 2022 thanks to higher demand from Honduras and Nicaragua.
In addition, the sector is responsible for more than 8,800 jobs (a May 2023), 4.8 per cent of total manufacturing. With data at 2021, the ISA reports that the item had a share of 4.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
Top of exporters
According to the ASI ranking, the company in the sector with the most exports is Kimberly Clark, who has had this position for 14 years.
The second most gaming firm in exports is Golden Wings, followed by Sigma Q, Cartona and Bemisal.
The report prepared by the ISA notes that Kimberly Clark celebrates 60 years of presence in the Salvadoran market in 2024. 82 per cent of the more than 46.2 million metric tons produced in 2023 was allocated for export to Central America and the Caribbean.
Kimberly Clark reports that her Scot paper star brand is mainly exported to Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras. After an $18 million investment in its plant, run in 2021, the company increased its production capacity by 30 percent.
This article has been translated after first appearing in Diario El Mundo