Browse Honduras Daily Stories

State power utility ENEE accumulated a L11.2 billion (about $450 million) deficit in the first seven months of 2026, with energy theft and illegal connections accounting for roughly 75% of losses, according to a civil-society analysis presented to energy regulators and Congress.

Honduras's tourism industry chamber says the part-time employment law approved by Congress in March has proven unworkable in practice, citing difficulty guaranteeing fixed hours or event-based contracts that the law requires, and is asking lawmakers to revise or reconsider its provisions.

The Finance Ministry has set preliminary budget allocations for government institutions as they prepare the 2027 General Budget proposal, due to Congress by September 14, with Finance Minister Emilio Hernández Hércules stressing the need to accelerate public investment execution this year.

Cohep, Honduras's main private-sector organization, rejected any involvement in a National Congress member Adolfo Ráquel's electricity-sector reform proposal, saying it has not reviewed or endorsed the initiative and will not be held responsible for its technical, legal, or financial implications.

The agricultural marketing institute reports Honduras holds 120,000 quintals (about 5,400 metric tons) of beans and 76,000 quintals (about 3,400 metric tons) of corn in strategic reserves, with new harvests expected in 20 days and a 25% discount on basic grains coming through state-run stores.

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Castañeda, president of Honduras's small and medium enterprise federation, argues that weak domestic production and outdated economic policies—not Chinese immigrants—are the real obstacles to Honduran competitiveness, as Congress investigates the entry of approximately 13,000 Asian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

Consumer-protection group Fundación Artículo 19 puts the monthly basic food basket for a five-person household at over L16,000 (about $640), far above the government's figure of roughly L8,600.

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.

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.

Economic Development Minister Eddy Ordóñez said the government is shifting from steep fines to warnings and guidance for small businesses, has conducted over 1,500 compliance trainings, and expects to announce a manufacturing-sector expansion creating more than 1,600 jobs.

Honduras's Cacao Ecotourism Route (RETCACAOH) connects family-run cacao farms, natural reserves, and tourism parks across the country where visitors can learn chocolate production from harvest to finished product, with the government and farmers aiming to diversify rural incomes through sustainable agritourism.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The private-sector council COHEP warns that rising fuel, energy, and input costs are accelerating company closures, with about 80% of microenterprises failing within five years and leadership transitions adding further risk.

The National Chamber of Tourism is calling for reforms to Honduras's part-time employment law, which caps hours at 18–32 per week and restricts hiring for seasonal peaks when hotels and restaurants need the most flexibility.

Honduras's audit court (TSC) has referred to prosecutors preliminary findings of possible criminal responsibility in the irregular handling of multimillion-lempira lawsuits against the state, involving private lawyers and seizures of government accounts.

The Central Bank of Honduras forecasts full-year 2026 GDP growth of 3 to 4 percent, supported by agricultural exports and household consumption, though the outlook depends heavily on global oil and coffee prices and international trade tensions.

Honduras's international reserves rose $1.26 billion to $11.56 billion in the first six months of 2026, a gain President Asfura credits to fiscal discipline and responsible management of public resources.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization called on Central American countries to strengthen strategic grain reserves to protect food security during the expected 2026–2027 El Niño, which forecasters say will bring reduced rainfall, more frequent droughts, and crop damage across the region.

Honduras's maquiladora sector lost roughly 40,000 jobs in 2025 as companies closed and relocated, even as the government announces a potential 4,000-job textile plant and says a US tariff on Honduran goods is straining competitiveness.

The Attorney General's office says the Economic Reactivation Law has reduced damages awarded in lawsuits against the state by roughly half through settlement agreements between public institutions and plaintiffs.

The head of Honduras's electricity regulator says delays in the Liberal Party's response to proposed power-sector reforms risk prolonging electricity supply problems and preventing competitive bidding processes needed to lower rates.

Honduras's banking sector and the government announced a new housing finance program targeting families earning less than two minimum wages, combining Banhprovi funds with private bank credit to expand access to affordable homes.

Honduras's Central Bank is implementing measures to absorb excess money circulating in the economy and stabilize resources, as inflation reached 5.83% year-over-year in June, while president Roberto Lagos cited supply-driven pressures and limited scope for interest-rate policy.

Honduras's national university economic institute forecasts the lempira will weaken to 27.15 per dollar by end-2026 and 27.98 per dollar by end-2027, a slower pace than 2025's 4.16% decline, while international reserves remain strong at 11.45 billion dollars.

Honduras's Energy Ministry says 378,920 homes — about 15% of the country — lack electricity, with rural areas most affected and infrastructure investment needed to close the gap.

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.