Honduras Economy News

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 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.

The Banco Central de Honduras allocated $103.5 million in its May 26 foreign-exchange auction, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L 26.6526 per dollar for May 27.

Labor Minister Fernando Puerto confirmed no changes to the law requiring employers to pay Honduras's annual 14th-month salary bonus at any point during June 2026, with workers able to file a complaint with the Labor Ministry if payment is not made.

The Banco Central de Honduras auctioned $93.6 million on May 25, yielding a weighted average exchange rate of L26.6543 per U.S. dollar for May 26, 2026.

Honduras's net international reserves accumulated $1.16 billion between January 27 and May 22, 2026, maintaining import coverage of 6.6 months, the Central Bank reported.

The government unveiled a 1.5-billion-lempira (roughly $60 million) incentive program targeting more than 300,000 corn, bean, coffee, and cattle farmers nationwide, with a drought-contingency plan and increased municipal transfers to help communities hardest hit by dry conditions.

The Central Bank's weekly report for May 15–21 shows net international reserves continuing to build — driven by remittances and strong export performance — with Honduras already meeting the liquid-reserve target set for June 2026 under its IMF agreement, despite a modest weekly dip tied to external debt payments.

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.

The Banco Central de Honduras awarded $109.3 million in its May 27 foreign-currency auction, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L26.6572 per dollar for May 28.

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.