Infrastructure in El Salvador: Ports, Airports, Roads and Power
Ports
| Phase | Investment (USD million) | Main works |
|---|---|---|
| Initial phase (2024 to 2025) | 50 | Pier repairs, fenders and urgent maintenance |
| Phase 1 (under way) | 659 | A new 610-metre pier, bigger yards, cold storage and new systems |
| Phase 2 (planned) | 906 | A second pier, more storage, workshops and equipment |
Source: El Salvador.com: Acajutla grows 11.2% and modernises1
- Acajutla: cargo grew 11.2% in 2025. The new pier will be about 17 metres deep, for ships of up to 21,000 TEU. In October 2026 the operator said the works tender was under way and building would start before the end of the year.
- Waiting times: the wait for container ships fell from about 12 days to under 24 hours between 2025 and 2026, according to the operator and the Ministry of Economy.
- Systems: the Navis N4 terminal system and SAP went live in January 2026, and a single maritime window for port paperwork is in development.
- La Unión: the port on the Gulf of Fonseca received more than 70 ships in 2025, and its operations were up 30% in the first part of 2026.
Source: El Salvador.com: Acajutla grows 11.2% and modernises; El Salvador.com: Acajutla port to get a new pier and a direct link to the United States; Diario El Mundo: Acajutla port to start building a new pier before the end of 2026; Diario El Mundo: Acajutla cuts ship waiting time to 24 hours; Infobae: La Unión port raises its operations by 30%1,10,11,2,3
Airports
- International airport (Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero): more than 5.2 million passengers and 51,000 flights in 2025. The 2026 budget policy includes a bigger passenger terminal and a new cargo terminal.
- Pacific Airport, La Unión: under construction in the east of the country; see the development plans page for its cost and timetable.
Source: CEPA: the international airport closes 2025 with growth; Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)4,9
Roads
- Los Chorros: a viaduct and wider road on the CA-1 highway west of San Salvador, with USD 126.69 million programmed for 2026.
- Apopa bypass: under construction north of the capital.
- Manuel José Arce bridge: a new border bridge at La Hachadura on the Guatemalan border.
- Maintenance: the road fund FOVIAL has USD 146.04 million for extra maintenance works in 2026.
Source: Ministry of Finance: public investment programme 2026, report to July (PDF, in Spanish); Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)8,9
Electricity
| Source | Share of generation in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Natural gas | 29.15% |
| Hydro | 27.47% |
| Geothermal | 19.15% |
| Solar | 8.04% |
| Biomass | 6.93% |
| Wind | 2.27% |
Source: Infobae: El Salvador changed its electricity mix in 2025, data from the Unidad de Transacciones6
The figures come from the annual bulletin of the Unidad de Transacciones, the wholesale market operator, as reported by Infobae. State-owned companies produce more than half of the electricity, including all hydro and geothermal power.6,5
Hydro output depends on the rains. In August 2026 hydro supplied only 8.6% of generation against 37.57% a year earlier, more gas and fuel oil were used, and the wholesale price reached USD 197.65 per MWh.7
Water and digital links
- Water: the state water company ANDA serves about 97% of urban areas and 80% of rural areas.
- Submarine cable: USD 81.24 million is programmed in 2026 for a national submarine cable system, meant to add international data capacity and lower connection costs.
- Data centre: the 2026 budget policy includes a state data centre built to the Tier III standard.
Source: US Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, El Salvador; Ministry of Finance: public investment programme 2026, report to July (PDF, in Spanish); Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)5,8,9
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs El Salvador’s ports?
Since December 2024 the ports of Acajutla and La Unión have been run by Unión Portuaria del Pacífico, formed by the port authority CEPA and the Turkish operator Yilport, under a 50-year agreement with a USD 1,615 million investment plan.
How busy is the international airport?
It handled more than 5.2 million passengers in 2025.
How much of El Salvador’s electricity is renewable?
Renewable sources produced more than 64% of electricity generated in 2025.
Sources
- El Salvador.com: Acajutla grows 11.2% and modernises (in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: Acajutla cuts ship waiting time to 24 hours (in Spanish)
- Infobae: La Unión port raises its operations by 30% (in Spanish)
- CEPA: the international airport closes 2025 with growth (in Spanish)
- US Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, El Salvador
- Infobae: El Salvador changed its electricity mix in 2025, data from the Unidad de Transacciones (in Spanish)
- La Prensa Gráfica: El Salvador turns to more thermal generation in August (in Spanish)
- Ministry of Finance: public investment programme 2026, report to July (PDF, in Spanish)
- Ministry of Finance: Budget Policy 2026 (PDF, in Spanish)
- El Salvador.com: Acajutla port to get a new pier and a direct link to the United States (in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: Acajutla port to start building a new pier before the end of 2026 (in Spanish)
Figures checked 8 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
