Browse Honduras Daily Stories

The Finance Ministry paid 255.2 million lempiras (about $10.2 million) in severance to 1,353 employees from 16 closed public agencies as part of a government restructuring, with Finance Secretary Emilio Hernández Hércules saying the closures removed redundant positions without significantly impacting the budget.

Three weeks after Honduras's new Energy Justice Law took effect, a monitoring report finds only one of 42 required tasks completed, with losses at the state utility ENEE rising to 34.4% and a critical energy auction delayed to early 2027.

Honduras's Economic Cabinet opened the sixth and final review of its 2023–2026 IMF agreement with a technical mission through November 2, evaluating compliance with economic targets and structural reforms; approval would unlock $120 million and pave the way for a new 2027–2030 accord.

Honduras's Energy Ministry announced new fuel prices effective October 19, with premium gasoline falling despite rising international costs, while regular gasoline and vehicular LPG increase, as the government continues subsidizing certain fuels to limit inflation.

An International Monetary Fund delegation arrives in Honduras on October 20 for a two-week review of the country's 2023 economic program; if approved, it will unlock negotiations for a new three-year agreement and access to additional funding.

The IMF's technical mission arrives October 20 to conduct the sixth and final review of Honduras's 2023–2026 agreement, a process lasting through November 2 that officials expect will unlock a final disbursement of about $120 million for the balance of payments.

Finance Minister Emilio Hernández Hércules said the government is working to meet transparency and anti-corruption criteria to qualify for a US Millennium Challenge Account compact worth $800 million to $1 billion in 2027, with funds targeted for energy, ports, and connectivity.

Regular gasoline, kerosene, and vehicle gas will rise by up to L2.50 per gallon (about $0.10) in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula beginning Monday, October 12, while diesel prices remain frozen.

Judicial claims against the Honduran government reached 29,484 as of June 2026, up 3,888 from a year earlier, driven largely by public-sector layoffs and straining the nation's contingent liabilities to 24.2% of GDP.

Honduras's private banking system reached an all-time high of 207.9 billion lempiras in liquid reserves as of August 2026, a 28.6% increase from a year earlier, giving banks greater capacity to extend credit at stable interest rates.

Starting October 5, the Honduran government will absorb L12.01 per gallon of diesel for 30 days to cushion consumers from rising global fuel prices, while also maintaining existing subsidies on regular gasoline and cooking gas.

Congress held meetings with transport leaders and private-sector representatives on September 30 to discuss emergency measures against fuel prices exceeding 153 lempiras per gallon, with a proposal to temporarily freeze fuel prices for two weeks during the Morazán holiday period.

Foreign direct investment in Honduras reached $675.7 million in the first half of 2026, a 67% jump from $403.6 million a year earlier, driven by hotel, restaurant, and financial-services projects.

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.

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.

Honduras's Energy Ministry announced increases across fuel products effective September 21, with premium gasoline climbing L4.57 per gallon in Tegucigalpa and kerosene rising L4.69, driving up costs for drivers and businesses nationwide.

Honduras's Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 6%, effective Monday, citing inflation that reached 6.2% in August and exceeded the target range.

Honduras's public debt reached 451.9 billion lempiras (about $18.1 billion) as of August 31, 2026, a 49.3 billion lempira increase from a year earlier, driven by external borrowing from the Inter-American Development Bank and other creditors to finance the central government budget.

The Asfura administration will submit the 2027 general budget of approximately 457 billion lempiras to Congress on September 14, with lawmakers aiming to approve it before year-end.

Honduras's Energy Ministry announced price increases for all fuel types effective September 14, with premium gasoline and kerosene rising by up to L3.86 per gallon in Tegucigalpa and similar increases in San Pedro Sula, while domestic cooking gas remains subsidized.

President Asfura blamed widespread blackouts and power rationing on peak-hour demand and fuel shortages at generating plants, while announcing that Congress-approved energy reforms await final review before publication and that roughly 1,500 megawatts will be tendered to stabilize the grid.

Honduras's National Congress and the World Food Programme finalized a technical cooperation agreement to address severe drought affecting over 100 municipalities, targeting immediate food aid and longer-term irrigation and agricultural infrastructure.

Premium gasoline, regular gasoline, diesel, and kerosene prices increased Sept. 7, with diesel climbing L2.46 per gallon to L145.69 (about $5.80) in Tegucigalpa, while domestic cooking gas held steady under government subsidy.

Honduras's official exchange rate climbed to L26.8727 per dollar on September 7, up L0.0077 from Friday, reflecting a slight strengthening of the US currency against the lempira.

Finance Minister Emilio Hernández announced the 2027 budget totals 457 billion lempiras (about $18.3 billion), a 13-billion-lempira increase from 2026, with priority allocations for education, health, security, and defense.

Honduras's new Energy Justice Law temporarily freezes ENEE electricity rates for six months, allows eligible low-income households to seek forgiveness of accumulated debts up to 250 kWh monthly consumption, and creates tax breaks for residential solar-panel systems.

Finance Secretary Emilio Hernández Hércules said the government will send its 2027 budget proposal to Congress on September 14, aiming to maintain a 1.0% fiscal deficit under the Fiscal Responsibility Law and avoid unsustainable debt.

The Agricultural Ministry is rushing to georeference over 50% of Honduras's coffee farms by year-end to meet European traceability standards and secure market access, protecting income for 120,000 farming families as the current harvest approaches 7.3 million quintals (about 330,000 metric tons).

Cohep president Anabel Gallardo called on Congress to pass the long-delayed energy law reform, warning that continued inaction weakens ENEE's governance and could deter investment.

Honduras's official dollar exchange rate climbed to L26.8368 (buy) and L26.9710 (sell) on August 20, continuing a week-long upward trend that has seen the lempira depreciate by roughly L0.009 since Monday.