The increase to $135 of the international price of the quintal is promising for the coffee sector, since in recent years producers have gone through severe crises because of the fall in the price of the grain.
According to figures from Bloomberg Markets, between mid-November and the first week of December the price of a quintal of coffee at the international level registered an important upturn, going from $100 to $135.
Honduran palm growers do not see improvements in their business in the short term, since they foresee that during 2020 international oil prices will remain low.
Some time ago, businessmen of the sector have been alerting of the crisis they are suffering, because in the first days of July of this year the National Federation of Associations of Oil Palm Producers and Extractors of Honduras (FENAPALMAH) and the Industrial Association of Palm Oil Producers of Honduras (AIPAH), declared themselves in national emergency.
In its latest update of economic growth projections for 2019, ECLAC estimates that the Dominican Republic will close the year with a 5% increase, followed by Panama, which would reach a growth rate of 3.7%.
According to economic growth projections for Latin America, which were estimated by the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) and updated in November, the Dominican Republic will be the country in the region that will increase its production the most this year.
According to the IMF, Honduras has experienced a moderation in economic growth in recent quarters, but a recovery is expected next year.
Honduras has made significant progress in implementing its economic program, which aims to foster inclusive growth through prudent macroeconomic policies and structural and governance reforms, according to the international organization's report.
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Except for Nicaragua, which projects a decline in revenues, Fitch Ratings estimates that by year-end the region's insurance markets will have grown from 3% to 8%.
According to the report Perspectives of Insurance Industry in Central America, prepared by the rating agency Fitch Ratings, El Salvador will be the market that in 2019 will register more dynamism in the region, reporting an 8% increase over revenues reported in 2018.
Honduran producers estimate that at the end of 2019 the volume traded abroad will register a reduction of six million pounds compared to what was reported in the previous year.
Directors of the National Association of Aquiculturists of Honduras (Andah), explained that one of the factors that has affected the sector are the low prices that are recorded internationally.
After reporting falls in previous months, during September 2019 in Honduras the Economic Activity Confidence Index registered a 4% increase with respect to August.
Analysts showed that the main indicators that measure economic performance are positive, they expect that with the proximity of the Morazán Week and the Christmas season the economy will dynamize, informed the Central Bank of Honduras.
Honduran builders estimate that in 2019 the sector could lose about 20,000 jobs, a decline that would be explained by the cut in economic growth projections.
According to reports from the Central Bank of Honduras, production slowed at the end of the first half of 2019, as economic activity in the country grew by 2.5% in June, a year-on-year variation that was lower than the 2.7% recorded in May.
In August, the Index of Confidence in Economic Activity registered a 7% decrease with respect to the previous month, a drop that complements the inter-monthly drop reported in July of this year, which was 17%.
According to those consulted, factors such as the lack of political consensus, weakening of institutional credibility and the social panorama are elements that affect the business environment, reported the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
In July, the Confidence Index of Economic Activity registered a 17% drop with respect to May, where again 49% is explained by the result of the current confidence index and 51% by future activity.
The consulted ones indicated that the potential negative impact of the unfavorable external conditions and the fall of prices of some products of exportation in the evolution of the national economy, as well as aspects related to the climate of businesses and its incidence in the new investments, informed the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
Last year, bottled water sales in Costa Rica were estimated at $89 million and they are expected to increase up to $106 million in 2023, a behavior explained by the downward trend in the consumption of carbonated beverages.
Although companies such as Florida Ice & Farm Co (Fifco) and Coca Cola Femsa have the opportunity to grow in the Costa Rican market, they will also face competition from new entrants such as Premium Brands.
Faced with the threat of a global economic slowdown and the possibility of the U.S. entering recession next year, businessmen in the region argue that to mitigate possible adverse effects, it is key to diversify export destinations.
Market analysts assure that the slowdown in U.S. economic activity is already a reality, and that what is still not clear, is the possibility that the economy will go into recession next year.
In Honduras, the Central Bank reduced the economic growth projection by the end of 2019 from 3.3% to 3.4%.
The main indicators of high-frequency economic conditions, such as the Monthly Economic Activity Index (IMAE), indicate a moderation in economic activity in relation to that observed in previous years, is one of the arguments of the Central Bank to review economic growth downwards.