Manufacturing and Commerce, were the sectors that most influenced the year-on-year growth of 3.1% registered during the first quarter of the year.
From a statement issued by Banco Central de Honduras:
The overall result of the GDPT - seasonally adjusted - during the first quarter of 2018 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 was 0.9% higher, mainly explained by an increase in external demand.
Financial Intermediation and Public Administration, were the sectors that most influenced the annual growth of almost 5% registered during the past year.
From a report by the Central Bank of Honduras:
In the last quarter of 2017, the national economic activity measured with the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDPT) showed a quarterly increase of 0.1%, the effect of a combination of both internal and external unfavorable factors; meanwhile, it stood at 3.6% year-on-year (compared to the same quarter of 2016), both variations measured with the seasonally adjusted series of GDPT at constant prices.
Companies from the sector are consolidating their operations in plants in order to improve production efficiency.
The President of the Honduran Maquila Association, Daniel Facussé, announced that the purpose of the relocation is to become more competitive, following a system already used in other companies in different sectors.
Moreover he added that "the aim is not to have plants scattered all over, but rather to have them all in one place, because it is much more economical for production"
In January Colombia produced 1 million sacks weighing 60 kilos, 15% more than the 877,000 sacks produced in the same month of 2013.
The National Federation of Coffee Growers confirmed that during January 1.01 million sacks of coffee weighing 60 kilos each were produced in Colombia, which is an increase of 15% compared to the 877,000 sacks produced in the same month of 2013.
On its way to regaining first place in Central America as a producer of grain, Honduras cultivated 4.400 hectares in 2013, quadruple the amount cultivated in 2010.
"We had 1,000 acres in production in 2010 and now we have about 4,400 and we expect that figure to continue growing," said Jacobo Regalado, chief of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG).
In November 1.11 million bags of 60 kilos of grain were produced, 45% more than the in the same period in the previous harvest in November.
The information was confirmed by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of that country.
Colombian rise in coffee production was "driven by the renewal of the crops which raised productivity and the health of the coffee plantations, as well as the improved climate", reported Prensa.com.
In contrast to the forecasts of reduced fish resources, an increase in production of mollusk in the region has been projected.
In the region there are about 150 thousand artisanal fishermen of which about 2,500 are devoted to the cultivation of oysters, especially in Costa Rica and El Salvador. Although it is a small amount the Organization of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Central America (OSPESCA) argues that the idea is to create a new alternative.
Expectations for 2013 are for grain production of 10 million bags weighing 60 kilos each and a further increase is foreseen for 2014 and in the next few years.
This was explained by Juan Esteban Orduz, president of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia during his participation in Brazil of the gathering celebrating 50 years of the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
Within the isthmus, Honduras has the lowest agricultural productivity, followed by, from the least to the most, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica.
Although the current global economic environment is favorable to the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean, specializing in the production and export of agricultural products, "Latin American agriculture is being forced to increase productivity in an environmentally friendly way in order to overcome natural resource constraints , environmental pressures, the consequences of climate change and volatility in international prices of the agricultural products it exports. "
The number of producers grew by 40% in the past two years, with a total harvest of about 850 tons.
Cocoa producers plan to have 8000 hectares dedicated to growing the grain within three years which would position the Honduras at the forefront of Central American growers.
Honduras currently has more and better trained farmers, which has allowed it to find market niches where to offer not only quality but also quantity.
More investment and marketing improvements will allow an increase in production of 20 million cases, which promises $200 million in exports in 2013.
The director of the National Agricultural Health Service of Honduras (SENASA), Heriberto Amador, said, "We have signed bilateral and multilateral agreements... we believe that according to the expectations of the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), James Regalado, with some projects such as EMPRENDESUR and PRESACCESO among others, between 2013 and 2015 1,500 million lempiras ($75.3 million) will be invested across different departments. "
Honduran melon production for the 2012-2013 harvest is set to perform better because of improved farming practices, which producers hope will translate into increased exports for the country.
A statement from the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office reads:
Medardo Galindo, head of Honduran agricultural exporters, explained that "we are expecting an increase of up to 5 and 10% of production, which will mean the country will see an upward curve in production", while in the 2009-2010 harvest 1.100 boxes were exported, in the following period the number rose to 1,300, he also added that if the sanitary and phytosanitary problems, which are being managed, had not occurred, the expansion of production could have been higher.
With a production growth of 50% over the last five years, Honduras recorded $110 million in exports in the first six months of 2012.
From 89,000 hectares in 2006, the size of the area planted with oil palm in Honduras has grown to reach 132,000 in 2011, making the country the third largest producer in Latin America.
In an article in Laprensa.hn Hector Castro, president of Fenapalmah (National Federation of Honduran Palm Growers), explained that "in view of the profitability and a change in the living standards of over 20,000 farmers whose crops generated revenues of $251 million last year, the goal is to triple production within ten years. Nevertheless, Castro stresses that this effort should go hand in hand with the creation of a trust which would allow them to have around $1,000 per hectare to fulfill the purpose. 'This would equate to about $600 million, we want the industry to put up some of the money and the state some, and this trust would be created so that money can be loan with favourable conditions '".