Coffee is the most important export crop. Other crops include sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. Beef and dairy products are also important. Because of the country's dense population and the emphasis on growing crops for export, El Salvador is not able to grow enough to feed its people and must import food. El Salvador has a strong industrial base, and the country's factories produce textiles, leather goods, clothing, processed food, tobacco, furniture, wood and metal products, and chemicals.
Fishing is a growing industry in El Salvador.
The major catches include shrimp, tuna, mullet, mackerel, and swordfish. Mineral extraction is limited to limestone, gypsum, sea salt, and other construction materials. The forestry industry is minor. However, a small, elite group of landowners and military officers has historically dominated the country's administration. Since the civil war of the 1980s, more democratic procedures have been adopted and more people in other social classes have participated in government.