Electricity Costs

Honduras's garment and assembly industry will lose an estimated $500 million in exports by year-end as a 10% decline reflects structural competitiveness challenges including high electricity costs, labor expenses, and shifts in global markets, the regional manager of the Honduran Maquiladora Association said.

Dante Mossi, former BCIE president, called on Congress to review how the government has spent 2026 funds and clarify priorities before approving the 455-billion-lempira (about $18.2 billion) 2027 budget, citing concerns over electricity costs, health-sector management, and diesel inflation.

The Partido Nacional said it would back the Liberal Party's competing energy-sector bill if it gains legislative consensus, citing insufficient votes for its own proposal and the urgency of approving public contracts to lower electricity costs for consumers.

Honduras's part-time employment law, which promised to generate opportunities since March 2026, has produced only 206 contracts across 43 companies, while restaurants and small businesses across the country announce closures, blamed partly on rising electricity costs.

Qarim Qubain, president of the Cortés Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says Congress needs more time to build consensus on controversial energy reforms, warning that prolonged electricity costs are driving away business investment.