flag Honduras Honduras: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

 

According to the World Bank, foreign trade represents 111% of the Honduran GDP. The country's strengths include top-quality port infrastructure and a relatively open business environment friendly to trade. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers are relatively low, although tariffs for the agricultural sector are considerably higher. On the other hand, outdated labor regulations, a lack of qualified workforce, and inefficient financial management inhibit the country's trade and economic development. Honduras imports goods with very high added value, but exports low added value products. The country's main imports include petroleum oils (13.5%), medicaments (4.7%), flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel (3%), motor vehicles for the transport of goods (2.8%), and motor cars (2.2%); while exports are led by coffee (26%), insulated "incl. enameled or anodized" wire (16.3%), crustaceans (10.4%), palm oil and its fractions (4.7%), and gold (3.3% - data Comtrade).

As per the latest available Comtrade data, Honduras mainly exports towards the United States (43.3%), Germany (6.7%), El Salvador (5.9%), Guatemala (4.5%), Nicaragua (4.3%), and Belgium (3.8%); with imports coming chiefly from the United States (34.3%), China (17.9%), Mexico (7.6%), Guatemala (5.6%), and El Salvador (4.4%). Honduras is a member of the WTO and CACM, and has trade agreements with the EU, Peru, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Taiwan, Panama, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

According to the Central Bank, in 2023, the trade deficit in goods abroad amounted to USD 7,979.2 million, reflecting a decrease of 5.6% (USD 473.3 million) compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to a USD 437.1 million increase in the surplus of goods for transformation (maquila), primarily linked to reduced imports. Exports of goods totaled USD 11,348.2 million, marking a 7.3% decrease (USD 898.7 million) from the previous year. This decline is primarily due to a 12.0% decrease in exports of goods produced in the processing industry (maquila), driven by reduced international demand for textile products. However, noteworthy growth was observed in automotive harnesses with a USD 188.6 million increase, bananas with USD 46.3 million, and certain manufactured products like sugar with USD 39.5 million. Imports of goods amounted to USD 19,327.4 million in 2023, representing a 6.6% decrease (USD 1,372.0 million) compared to the previous year. This reduction is mainly attributed to a decrease of USD 1,170.5 million (26.7%) in imports of goods for processing (maquila), particularly textile materials. Additionally, imports of general merchandise saw a contraction of USD 201.4 million (1.2%), notably in industrial supplies and fuels. Concerning services, the latest data from WTO (referring to 2022) indicate exports worth USD 3.1 billion, a level similar to the one of imports (USD 3.2 billion).

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20202021202220232024
Imports of Goods (million USD) 10,25315,07618,32117,35117,671
Exports of Goods (million USD) 7,68310,24712,28111,38311,057
Imports of Services (million USD) 1,7892,7913,7393,5363,611
Exports of Services (million USD) 1,9242,7843,2933,7523,613
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -18339-92
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -21237-7-5
Trade Balance (million USD) -3,832-6,805-8,170-8,355-8,903
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 881031139991
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 5264706158
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 3639423734

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
United States 45.0%
El Salvador 6.5%
Nicaragua 5.9%
Guatemala 5.7%
Germany 4.8%
See More Countries 32.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
United States 35.4%
China 16.3%
Mexico 7.2%
Guatemala 5.3%
El Salvador 4.1%
See More Countries 31.8%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

7.2 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated;...Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated; coffee husks and skins; coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion 20.7%
Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire,...Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire, cable "incl. coaxial cable" and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors 17.0%
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined...Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified) 6.9%
Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh,...Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, even smoked, incl. crustaceans in shell cooked by steaming or by boiling in water; flours, meals and pellets of crustaceans, fit for human consumption 4.7%
Bananas, incl. plantains, fresh or driedBananas, incl. plantains, fresh or dried 3.3%
See More Products 47.3%
14.4 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 17.4%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 4.5%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab 3.9%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.7%
Food preparations, n.e.s.Food preparations, n.e.s. 2.1%
See More Products 68.4%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export controls

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs Duties

 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Economic Cooperation
Member of Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA)

Member of Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Member of Central American Common Market (CACM)

Member of Central American Four (CA-4) .

Useful Resources
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
The Directorate General of Intellectual Property.
 
 
 

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Latest Update: October 2025