Honduras Economy News

A potato farmer from San Juan del Rancho selling at capital-area markets reports that potato prices have risen by 5 lempiras.

Honduras has renewed 70,000 acres of coffee plants through a program coordinated by the Agriculture Ministry and the Institute for Honduran Coffee, with officials projecting output will rise to 7 million quintals this harvest from 6.14 million the prior year.

Honduras faces potential US tariffs of 10–12.5% if a US trade office investigation finds forced labor in supply chains, though the government says no specific cases have been identified and frames compliance as an opportunity to strengthen labor inspection and supply-chain transparency.

The Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce forecasts that payments of the traditional 14th-month bonus will pump approximately L24.9 billion (about $1 billion USD) into the public and private sectors combined.

Kerosene prices in Tegucigalpa have dropped 20.12 lempiras per gallon over six weeks, falling from a historic high of 144.33 lempiras to 124.21 lempiras as summer demand in North America eases.

Uber drivers held a demonstration on Friday seeking government approval to operate legally, citing lack of employment opportunities in their traditional professions.

Honduras's currency depreciated again on June 5, with the central bank's daily forex auction setting the dollar at L26.67 for purchase and L26.80 for sale, continuing a sustained slide blamed on IMF-backed exchange-rate policy adjustments.

Honduras's central bank auctioned $81 million in its June 4 foreign-exchange sale, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L26.67 per dollar for June 5.

The vice president of the Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce warned that while Honduras has made macroeconomic progress, inflation, insecurity, unemployment, and extortion continue to prevent those gains from improving living standards for ordinary Hondurans.

Domestic rice output has fallen below 500,000 quintals against annual demand of 6 million, leaving Honduras to import roughly 90% of its supply from the US, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Honduras imported 6.97 million barrels of fuel in the first three months of 2026, worth $608.2 million, a 5.8% increase from the same period last year, driven by higher demand for diesel and gasoline for vehicles and thermal power generation.

Honduras's state power utility is auctioning L2.2 billion (about $88 million) in bonds at interest rates of 10.6% to 12.2% to pay down arrears exceeding L16.4 billion owed to private energy suppliers.

Honduras is servicing over $3.3 billion in foreign loans for 66 active projects, 76% of which have failed to reach 50% execution by end of 2025, including 19 that have not begun, forcing taxpayers to cover interest and fees on work generating no public benefit.

The central bank allocated $96.3 million in its June 3 currency auction, setting the weighted average exchange rate at L26.67 per dollar for June 4.

Honduras's banana shipments reached $122.3 million in the first three months of 2026, up 36% year-over-year, driven by higher volumes and expanded cultivation, the Central Bank reported.

The Central Bank of Honduras auctioned $105.1 million in its June 2 currency auction, setting the weighted average exchange rate at L26.6667 per dollar for Wednesday, June 3.

Honduras's Global Real Effective Exchange Rate Index held a 3.43% year-over-year gain in export competitiveness for the fourth consecutive month through April 2026, driven primarily by favorable exchange-rate movements.

Honduras requires employers to pay workers their annual 14th-month bonus (decimocuarto) by June 30, a mandatory benefit calculated as one month's average salary over the preceding 12 months.

Honduras's June payment of the annual fourteenth-month salary bonus will circulate approximately 14 billion lempiras (about $560 million) through the economy, with the private sector accounting for roughly 10 billion lempiras and companies having until June 30 to comply.

Honduras's banking regulator is hosting a free webinar on June 4 about managing the traditional year-end bonus (catorceavo) wisely and building healthy financial habits.

SITRAINA, the teachers' union, is requesting a 2,500-lempira (approximately $100) monthly salary increase, citing the rising cost of living.

New weekly fuel prices take effect Monday, with super gasoline and diesel dropping in both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, while regular gasoline and domestic LPG rise slightly, according to the Energy Secretariat.

The National Logistics Council and National Investment Council signed an agreement under President Nasry Asfura's administration to attract foreign and domestic investment in logistics, trade, and industry, with a goal of creating more than 100,000 formal jobs, backed in part by a 600-million-lempira (about $24 million) expansion of Puerto Cortés's bulk terminal.

Honduras's private sector council COHEP reports 4% IMAE growth driven by agroindustry and remittances, while warning that 3.12% inflation pressured by transport costs and climate risks to agriculture remain key challenges alongside IMF agreement progress and floating debt monitoring.

The Banco Central de Honduras auctioned $79.5 million on May 28, yielding a weighted average exchange rate of L26.6608 per U.S. dollar, effective May 29, 2026.

Honduras's customs authority, ARSA, and SENASA signed a cooperation agreement to streamline import and export processes through shared technology and risk management, aiming to cut costs and processing times for businesses.

COHEP's May 2026 economic bulletin shows 4% accumulated GDP-activity growth through March, 3.12% inflation (transport up 10.55%), a pending $245 million IMF disbursement expected in late June, and government floating debt exceeding L 24.6 billion (about $985 million), or 2.4% of GDP.

Under Decree 07-2026, Honduras's tax authority (SAR) is waiving penalties, interest, and surcharges for taxpayers who regularize obligations that were due through December 31, 2025, with the amnesty window open until June 15, 2026.

Honduras's Energy Ministry announced Friday that fuel prices will fall effective Monday, June 8, with decreases across refined products.

A UNAH finance professor says remittances—about 30% of GDP—sustain Honduras's currency market and millions of families but are mostly spent on consumption rather than productive investment, and the country should redirect them toward long-term economic growth.