Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Adalid Irías, president of a consumer-advocacy group (Defco), called on Honduras's consumer-protection office to meet with producers to identify causes of recent food-price increases, citing eggs rising 6 lempiras (about $0.24) per carton and other staples climbing 3–4 lempiras, partly attributed to drought and higher livestock-feed costs.

José Castañeda, president of Honduras's small and medium enterprise federation, argues that weak domestic production and outdated economic policies—not Chinese immigrants—are the real obstacles to Honduran competitiveness, as Congress investigates the entry of approximately 13,000 Asian citizens since 2022.

Honduras's currency depreciated to near L27 per dollar as of early August, prompting economists to warn of pressure on import prices while the Central Bank says the decline is moderate and driven by normal supply-and-demand forces.

To ease drought-driven price pressure, the government is releasing 120,000 quintals (about 5,400 metric tons) of beans from state reserves at L18 per pound (about $0.72) through Banasupro, with a 25-pound limit per person.

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.

Christian Duarte, a former Finance Ministry official, linked budget cuts by the Asfura administration to a food crisis affecting 1.8 million Hondurans, citing reductions in agricultural programs, forestry protection, farm credit, and water infrastructure.

Liberal and National Party lawmakers said they are close to agreement on energy reforms to modernize the electric system and rescue the troubled state utility ENEE, with key protections for public assets including hydroelectric dams.

Honduras's Finance Ministry is releasing over 1.1 billion lempiras (about $44 million) in advance municipal transfers to 75 drought-affected towns to fund emergency food security and aid to families hit hardest by the extended dry season.

Agricultural leaders are calling on authorities to rotate Honduras's 120,000-quintal (about 5,400 metric tons) strategic bean reserve at IHMA to prevent deterioration and maintain stable prices as 600,000 quintals of new harvest arrive in coming weeks.

Honduras law requires anyone who receives money by banking error to return it, with civil and penal liability—including fraud charges—for those who spend or refuse to repay the funds.

Honduras's Energy Ministry shifted the weekly fuel-price adjustment from 6 a.m. to 12:01 a.m. on Mondays to align with gas stations' weekend supply logistics, a change implemented 30 days ago but announced publicly this week.

Honduras is considering opening its electricity market to multiple operators in generation, distribution, transmission, and sales—similar to Costa Rica's hybrid system—to boost investment, diversify energy sources, and increase regional competition.

Honduras's banking system is reallocating resources toward longer-term domestic financial instruments, signaling a shift toward more structurally oriented investments.

Honduras's shrimp producers face mounting losses from drought-driven higher salinity in ponds, production costs up 15–18%, and depressed international prices worsened by Ecuadorian oversupply, threatening employment in the southern region.

Honduras's banking regulator (CNBS) announced an August supervisory examination of state agricultural bank Banadesa to review its loan portfolio, use of public funds, and operational controls, citing suspected irregularities in credits approved under previous administrations.

The Central Bank set the official exchange rate at 26.8141 lempiras per dollar for buying and 26.9482 for selling on Friday, a slight uptick that carries direct effects on import costs, consumer prices, and the value of remittances received by Honduran families.

Congress approved two loans worth $225 million from the World Bank's International Development Association and the Inter-American Development Bank to support public finances and the national budget, with low interest rates and extended repayment periods.

State institutions have accumulated over 20 billion lempiras (roughly $800 million) in unpaid electricity bills to ENEE, with much of the debt dating back more than 15 years; the utility is auditing its accounts receivable and also grappling with 34% energy losses due partly to theft.

Honduras unveiled a 2026–2030 incentive strategy for agriculture with FAO support, aiming to attract investment, create jobs, incorporate technology, and boost competitiveness in a sector that contributes 13% of GDP and over a third of exports.

BCH president Roberto Lagos projects inflation will continue easing to about 5.5% in August from nearly 6%, while international reserves reached a record $11.7 billion, equivalent to seven months of import coverage and strengthening financial stability.

The electricity regulator said it will evaluate the Liberal Party's counterproposal for power-sector reforms, insisting any changes must balance lower tariffs, fair competition, and fiscal impact while rejecting open-ended incentives.

Gasoline and diesel prices will increase on August 10, with diesel rising the most (L4.80 per gallon in Tegucigalpa), while the government continues to subsidize domestic cooking gas to cushion the impact on households.

Honduras's customs agency collected L41 billion ($1.64 billion) through July 30, exceeding its mid-year target by more than 102%, with strong inflows from merchandise imports, vehicles, and fuel driving confidence it will surpass the full-year goal of L69 billion.

Honduras's Financial Relief Law for agricultural producers took effect, allowing farmers, rice growers, salt producers, and shrimp farmers to refinance debts at a maximum interest rate of 2% annually over up to 15 years through Banadesa and Senprende.

The US dollar strengthened to 26.81 lempiras at purchase and 26.94 at sale on August 6, according to the Central Bank's official rate, affecting imports, prices, and remittances to Honduran families.

Honduras officially launched its 2026 national census, using digital mapping and geolocation to collect population and housing data that will guide public investment toward municipalities with the greatest needs.

Congress approved budget amendments requiring telecom operators to contribute 1% of monthly revenue to fund internet access in public schools, while also allowing the military's textile industry direct procurement and ordering ministries to purge duplicate payroll positions.

The National Congress established a special commission to develop legislative reforms for Honduras's shrimp industry, which employs 25,000 directly and 100,000 indirectly but has lost over 10,000 jobs since Taiwan relations ended and production costs rose.

A 14-member Honduran delegation of government officials and private-sector representatives is in Israel to study water management, drip-irrigation systems, and dairy-production technologies to address El Niño drought impacts, following President Nasry Asfura's January visit to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Honduran farmers are preparing to sell approximately 600,000 quintals (about 27,000 metric tons) of red beans from the first harvest cycle, which officials say has been delayed by late rains and variable weather.