Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Honduras shipped $3.61 billion in goods in the first three months of 2026, an 11.5% year-over-year increase led by coffee, apparel manufacturing, bananas, and palm oil, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.

A think tank says Honduras's state power utility loses about 15 billion lempiras (roughly $600 million) a year, blamed on political interference rather than operational needs, as Congress debates an overhaul bill opposed by some lawmakers who fear weakening the company's market role.

The government said strategic bean reserves held by the agricultural marketing institute exceed storage targets by 10–15%, ensuring adequate supply despite drought, and has identified potential import suppliers as a backup plan.

A petroleum-industry analyst predicts diesel and gasoline prices in Honduras will drop modestly over the next four to six weeks as global crude stabilizes around $67 a barrel, with diesel potentially falling about 2 lempiras per gallon.

A month-long drought has cut crop yields across key farming regions and pushed vegetable prices sharply higher at Tegucigalpa's main produce market, with merchants warning of further increases if rains do not return.

The president of Honduras's renewable energy association says the recent electricity rate increase stems from global fuel prices rather than non-renewable generators, and calls for greater investment in clean energy to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

Honduras and the Dominican Republic extended their memorandum of understanding between their investment promotion agencies for another year through July 2027, aimed at attracting foreign investment and strengthening bilateral economic ties.

Honduras has spent only 34% of its 444-billion-lempira (about $16.8 billion) 2026 budget through June, with economists attributing the lag to late congressional approval and urging faster execution in priority areas like health, education, and productive investment.

Moody's confirmed Honduras's B1 sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook for the next 12 months, but warned that crime, political polarization, and weak institutions threaten the economy, while remittances remain a crucial economic pillar despite stricter US migration policies.

Transport operators say urban bus fares will remain at 13 lempiras despite recent fuel-price declines, citing other operating costs and a government subsidy three months in arrears.

Year-over-year inflation in Honduras reached 6.09% in May, up 1.55 percentage points from a year earlier, driven mainly by rising fuel prices that accounted for nearly half the overall price increase.

Honduras's electric utility regulator approved a third rate increase for 2026 effective July 1, expected to raise bills 5–10% through September, pushing year-to-date increases to nearly 15% amid inflation above target and lempira depreciation.

The International Monetary Fund's board approved Honduras's fourth and fifth program reviews, unlocking a $242 million disbursement and bringing total IMF funding to $725 million of a $847 million package, though the IMF flagged missed targets on electrical utility arrears and urged faster energy-sector reform.

Egg prices at Tegucigalpa's farmers market are unchanged this week—a 30-egg flat of large eggs at 95 lempiras (about $3.80)—but vendors warn that reduced supply, especially of large eggs, could push prices up next week.

The government and domestic onion producers agreed to permit imports from July onward to maintain supply and stable prices as the eastern region's harvest winds down, while prioritizing local purchases during harvest seasons.

Honduras's state food-supply agency Banasupro began a three-month program on June 24 to hold basic food prices steady and offer discounts of up to 10% through partnerships with private suppliers across its 121 nationwide stores.

Honduras has exported over 6 million quintals (about 270,000 metric tons) of coffee worth $2.05 billion this season, and with sales contracts already near 6.85 million quintals, officials project final exports could reach 7 million quintals before the September 30 harvest close.

Honduras's National Congress unanimously passed a financial relief law allowing farmers to restructure debts over 15 years and receive government subsidies covering up to 80 percent of agricultural insurance premiums to help the sector weather climate shocks and rising production costs.

Honduras's merchandise exports reached $3.61 billion in the first three months of 2026, a 11.5% year-on-year increase driven by coffee, apparel manufacturing, bananas, and palm oil, according to an Inter-American Development Bank report.

A UNAH food-security monitor reports sustained increases in basic food costs—beef, pork, eggs, oil, and beans up 1–10 lempiras per item in early June—outpacing minimum-wage gains and pushing an estimated 2.2 million Hondurans toward food insecurity by year-end.

Honduras signed a $100 million Inter-American Development Bank loan to strengthen fiscal management, revenue collection efficiency, and budget transparency, with support from the IMF, World Bank, and CAF.

The Energy Ministry announced price cuts for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene effective June 22, with the largest reductions in diesel and kerosene, while domestic liquefied petroleum gas remains subsidized by the government.

Deputy Finance Minister Liliam Rivera said the National Treasury faces critical strain from automatic debt payments linked to lawsuits from the prior administration, combined with obligations to multilateral lenders and a floating debt exceeding 24 billion lempiras (about $960 million).

Roberto Lagos, president of Honduras's central bank, says failure to approve an energy sector reform will perpetuate ENEE's structural problems, mounting debt, and operational losses, and has secured backing from international multilateral organizations.

A consumer-advocacy group reported that at least 16 staple foods rose in price over the weekend, with beans reaching 120 lempiras (about $4.80) per measure and eggs up to 110 lempiras (about $4.40) per carton, alongside price increases in chayote, potatoes, peppers, and broccoli, blamed on weather, inflation, and Middle East conflicts.

Honduran bank liquidity reached L195.9 billion (about $7.8 billion) in March 2026 as deposits continued to grow faster than the credit portfolio, leaving lenders with excess funds that could boost lending later in the year if loan demand increases.

Finance Minister Emilio Hernández and Central Bank President Roberto Lagos signed a letter of intent to the IMF ahead of the June 29 board review, with officials saying approval could unlock about $240 million in fresh funds and help stabilize the economy.

Egg prices jumped at Tegucigalpa's main markets over the weekend, with large eggs rising from 85 to 95 lempiras per 30-unit carton, as sellers cite higher production costs and limited large-egg supply.

Former Central American Bank president Dante Mossi cautioned that a proposed reform to exclude bonuses from income tax (ISR) calculations would create tax-evasion opportunities and reduce government revenue, reversing two decades of IMF-backed reforms.

Beef prices in Honduras have climbed 4 lempiras over two weeks due to livestock shortages caused by drought and reduced pastureland, with vendors absorbing much of the increase to hold retail prices at roughly 100 lempiras per pound (about $4).