Browse Honduras Daily Stories

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 Cortés Chamber of Commerce president cited a sharp trade deficit with China—Honduras imports about $210 million monthly in Chinese goods while exporting far less—and called for equal competitive conditions and enforcement of tax and labor laws for all foreign investors.

Roatán's new public hospital is running about 10% behind schedule but still on track for completion in early July 2027, after which services will transfer from the current facility over three to four months to ensure uninterrupted care.

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 Bay Islands held a departmental drawing competition that selected student representatives from Roatán, Utila, Guanaja, and Santos Guardiola to compete in the national contest, with support from local education and cultural institutions.

Roatán's municipal tourism office held a second training session for over 60 street vendors and tour operators in customer service, environmental practices, and visitor engagement as part of its Destination Hosts Program.

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 shrimp sector, concentrated in Choluteca and Valle departments, maintains steady production and generates $230–$270 million yearly in foreign exchange while supporting roughly 20,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect positions across the supply chain.

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.

Roatán's Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport is undergoing renovation work ahead of the November–April high season, with temporary restrictions on some areas to allow construction to proceed uninterrupted.

The Technological University of Honduras's Roatán campus inaugurated a virtual museum project documenting life in the Bay Islands during the 1960s, with audiovisual displays set to open publicly at the Casa de la Cultura in late September.

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 National Identity Museum is hosting the 29th National Painting Biennial, Honduras Art Week (August 7–9), artist workshops, and talks throughout August, with free admission and programming for all ages.

Transport operators in Roatán are calling for stricter enforcement against illegal surcharges, unlicensed vehicles, and drivers ignoring set fares, with the Transport Council president citing persistent night-time overcharging and planning a visit from the national transport institute next month.

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.

Mayak Chocolate, a chocolatier in Roatán using Honduran cacao, won a Gourmet Medal at an international chocolate competition in Paris for its 70% dark chocolate bar with cashew, marking the company's 16th international award since 2015.

Honduras's National Institute of Statistics will begin its National Population and Housing Census on August 10, starting in the Bay Islands, with a municipal committee formed to coordinate with local institutions and ensure public participation.

The Honduran Institute of Transport will offer heavy-equipment driver certification classes on Roatán next weekend, allowing tourism and transport workers to obtain licenses without traveling to the mainland and spending an estimated L30,000–L35,000 (about $1,200–$1,400) on travel and lodging.

Honduras deposited its ratification of the ICSID convention on July 17, becoming the 159th state to join the World Bank dispute-settlement mechanism for foreign-investment disputes, effective August 16.

The Association of Petroleum Product Distributors (Ahdippe) called on lawmakers to more carefully analyze energy-system reform proposals, citing concerns about technical losses, ENEE debt recovery, and accountability before the bill advances.

An administrative employee dismissed from Instituto Departamental Honduras in José Santos Guardiola has been reinstated after teachers and union representatives protested the firing, though the school remains occupied by demonstrators demanding full resolution.

Vendors at the Feria del Agricultor are absorbing a recent L2-per-pound cost rise to keep beef prices stable, though drought threatening cattle feed may force adjustments in coming weeks.

The Ciudad Mujer Mobile clinic arrives in Roatán on July 24–25 to provide free medical, psychological, and social services including screenings and dental care to women and children in the island municipality.

The head of Honduras's apparel manufacturers association is calling on the government to negotiate zero tariffs with the United States for agricultural goods and auto parts, matching Mexico's treatment, to boost competitiveness as the Trump administration considers new trade measures.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés warned that international companies have suspended investment plans in Honduras pending the outcome of U.S. tariff negotiations, citing concern that a 10% tariff and potential further restrictions could push capital to competing Central American countries and hurt the manufacturing and job sectors.