According to the Honduras Forum on the 24th, Vice Minister of Agriculture Carlos Roberto Murillo, responsible for coffee cultivation, emphasized that in the 2024-2025 coffee production season, coffee sales have already exceeded 5 million quintals, and producers have signed contracts with international market buyers for over 6 million quintals.
Murillo added that the growth in export value is of significant importance to the national economy, with the Honduras Central Bank's (BCH) predicted economic growth largely benefiting from coffee cultivation. The industry not only brings foreign exchange income but also relates to the economic source of approximately 120,000 families across 225 municipalities in 15 provinces.
Coffee cultivation creates around 1 million temporary and permanent jobs annually, with coffee-planted areas exceeding 530,000 hectares nationwide, bringing vitality and employment opportunities to rural areas. For the government, agriculture is a priority development area. Therefore, total investment in the coffee industry surpasses 2 billion lempiras, covering financing, support for vulnerable groups, and public policies encompassing all stages of the production chain.
Furthermore, coffee exports have helped reduce Honduras' trade deficit. Central Bank data shows that in the first 4 months of the year, the trade deficit was $2.0312 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 20.9%. This improvement is mainly due to the recovery of coffee exports, which reached $645 million, consolidating its position as one of Honduras' strategic economic products. The historic rise in international coffee bean prices has also contributed.
From January to April this year, Honduras' exports reached $4.346 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15.4%. Of this, 61% was general goods, and 39% came from processed exports. Meanwhile, import growth was moderate, at 0.7%, with total imports at $6.3772 billion.
During this period, Honduras achieved positive trade results with European countries, with a trade surplus of $417.7 million, a notable increase primarily due to increased coffee exports to Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.