Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Congress President Tomás Zambrano proposed working groups with fuel importers, distributors, and industry sectors to explore alternatives to 11 consecutive weeks of fuel-price increases, while transport leaders demanded a diesel-tax exemption and threatened a nationwide shutdown if the government does not respond this week.

Economists analyzing Honduras's employment crisis say the average worker earns around L9,000 ($360) monthly, a sum experts say cannot sustain a family and is contributing to migration.

Only 14.5% of Hondurans aged 15–64 used generative AI tools in Q2 2026, placing the country fifth among six Central American nations and below the global average of 18.8%, according to a Microsoft report.

Honduras's labor market faces mounting pressure from about 290,000 unemployed workers plus new job-seekers including recent graduates and deportees, while agricultural problems and rising energy and food costs are squeezing businesses' hiring capacity.

Honduras's international reserves reached $11.85 billion as of mid-September 2026, covering 6.7 months of imports — 1.1 months more than a year earlier, the Central Bank reported.

Economist Amparo Canales says just 10 of Honduras's 105 budget institutions control over 70% of resources and urges officials to review 2026 spending patterns—which have reached only 60% execution by late September—before allocating funds for 2027.

Honduras's banking regulator approved a temporary debt-restructuring program for agricultural producers in six departments covering 75 municipalities, allowing them to reschedule loans, extend payment periods, and access working capital.

Outstanding electricity bills owed to Honduras's state power utility have climbed to L21.1 billion (about $845 million) as of August 31, with residential customers accounting for more than half the debt despite repeated government payment relief programs.

Honduran coffee exports grew 17.6% to $2.02 billion through July 2026, but producers say the key to higher revenue is shifting more of the volume toward premium-grade beans that command better prices.

The Central Bank auctioned $85.5 million in a foreign-exchange sale on September 25, setting the weighted average exchange rate at L26.8935 per dollar for the weekend and Monday.

Diesel and gasoline prices in Honduras will increase again on Monday, September 28, marking the sixth straight week of fuel-price hikes announced by the Energy Ministry.

Honduras's net international reserves rose by $1.158 billion since January to reach $11.46 billion as of September 24, providing 6.6 months of import coverage.

Economists forecast Honduras will end 2026 with inflation above 6%, exceeding the central bank's 5% target, as fuel and food prices surge despite a recent interest-rate increase.

Private-sector credit in Honduras continues to grow, propelled mainly by increased lending to businesses as the financial system has more liquidity available.

The Central Bank of Honduras auctioned $92.9 million in foreign exchange on September 24, establishing a weighted average exchange rate of L26.8931 per dollar for September 25.

Fosdeh researcher Jorge Henríquez warns that sustained inflation is forcing Honduran families to reduce food intake and nutrition, shift to cheaper staples, and take out loans to cover basic monthly expenses.

Honduras's maquila exports fell 8.0% year-over-year through July 2026 to $2.91 billion, driven by a $221.3 million decline in textile and apparel sales to the US and reduced electrical-harness shipments, with industry leaders warning of global trade reconfiguration.

Agricultural producers say the fall planting season faces obstacles without adequate financing, crop insurance, and climate protections, with fears of reduced acreage and threats to grain supplies as drought continues to damage current crops.

Finance Secretary Emilio Hércules presented the 2027 budget of 455.4 billion lempiras (about $18.2 billion), with 84% funded from domestic revenue and priorities including 8.6 billion for infrastructure, 8.7 billion for health, increased municipal transfers, and support for agriculture amid El Niño drought concerns.

The Central Bank of Honduras awarded $92.3 million in its September 23 currency auction, setting the weighted average exchange rate at L26.8842 per dollar for September 24.

Honduras's planned energy reform faces delays as the government struggles to find resources to cover the cost of freezing electricity rates for six months, raising questions about who will ultimately bear the financial burden.

The Central Bank of Honduras will conduct its quarterly business and economic survey (ECOPT) from September 28 through November 6, 2026, and is requesting businesses to cooperate with visiting technical staff.

The director of Honduras's fuel distributors' association warned that volatile international oil markets make fuel prices unpredictable and urged week-to-week analysis, noting that high costs disproportionately harm low-income households and the national oil import bill could exceed $3 billion by year-end.

With informal employment near 78%, experts say Honduras can expand formal jobs by strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through better access to financing, streamlined regulations, and growth incentives.

Honduras's central bank allocated $107.3 million in its September 22 currency auction, setting the weighted average exchange rate at L26.8808 per dollar for September 23.

Falling global coffee prices driven by Brazil's record harvest are squeezing Honduran producers, though an expected 1 million additional quintals (about 45,000 metric tons) of production this year may partially offset lower per-unit earnings.

Honduras's 2027 budget directs 8.563 billion lempiras (about $343 million) to infrastructure projects, mainly road corridors and social infrastructure, while increasing municipal transfers by 7.5% to roughly 11.6 billion lempiras.

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.

A Chamber of Commerce official estimates road blockades are causing 300–400 million lempiras (roughly $12–16 million) in losses, particularly hurting small and mid-sized businesses unable to move goods or receive supplies.

Honduras's National Transport Council has called for an emergency meeting with the government to address rising fuel costs affecting the trucking and passenger-transit industries.