Milled rice and broken rice market in Honduras

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2024, Honduran rice production showed significant volatility, declining from 158 thousand tons in 2018 to 136.9 thousand tons in 2023. Market conditions hindered the expansion of cultivated area and output, leading to a growing reliance on imports to meet domestic demand. This trend was exacerbated by the migration of an estimated 52% of rice producers to the United States due to precarious working conditions, which put further pressure on local supply.

The market volume peaked in 2022 at 185 thousand tons, driven by a surge in imports to 37.5 thousand tons. This import spike resulted from mills favoring imported U.S. rice under a 7.5% tariff over purchasing domestic production, coupled with structural constraints like lack of irrigation, dependency on rainfall, and use of low-yield seeds. Adverse weather conditions in 2023 then closed the planting window, reducing production and pulling the market size down to 141 thousand tons.

In 2024, the government initiated measures to revive national production, guaranteeing the purchase of 50,000 quintals by the Honduran Agricultural Marketing Institute. This intervention, along with the adoption of higher-yielding varieties and improved cultivation practices, helped stabilize output and raise productivity by 42.7%. Despite these efforts, Honduras remains heavily dependent on imports to satisfy its annual consumption of approximately 5 million quintals.

Production milled rice and broken rice in Honduras

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milled rice and broken rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of milled rice and broken rice, 2017-2020

In 2020, Honduras produced 145.7 thousand tons of milled rice and broken rice, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 14.6%, averaging an annual growth rate of 4.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 158.0 thousand tons. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with an 11.5% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 24.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Honduras in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, the value of milled rice and broken rice output in Honduras reached 55 001 thousand US dollars, showing a solid 10.3% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 22.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 57 621 thousand US dollars. The largest decline was in 2019 with a 13.5% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 28.1% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Honduras in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports milled rice and broken rice from Honduras

Exports in kind, t

After two consecutive years of decline, Honduras saw an increase in its exports of milled rice and broken rice. In 2020, exports totaled 5 729 tons, reflecting a 6.3% rise compared to the previous year. However, from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 24.2%, averaging an annual decline of 8.8%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 5 391 tons, with the largest decline occurring in 2018 at 17.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Honduras in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, El Salvador was the dominant destination for Honduras's exports of milled rice and broken rice in volume terms, accounting for 73.9% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among several smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Honduras in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year decrease, Honduras's foreign supplies of milled rice and broken rice increased. In 2020, exports were valued at 2 162 thousand US dollars, up by 12.5% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 19.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 922 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline also in 2019 at 15.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Honduras in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Honduras's exports of milled rice and broken rice in value terms were largely concentrated on El Salvador, which accounted for 78.1% of total flows. Other countries together formed the residual share.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Honduras in value, 2017-2020

Imports milled rice and broken rice to Honduras

Imports in kind, t

After two years of growth, Honduras's imports of milled rice and broken rice declined. In 2020, imports totaled 10 802 tons, representing a robust decrease of 15.9% compared to the previous year. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 12 840 tons, with the largest increase also in 2019 at 10.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Honduras in kind, 2017-2020, t

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the United States (50.6% of imports in volume terms), Asia, not elsewhere specified (12.0% of imports in volume terms), and China (7.6% of imports in volume terms) formed the core of Honduras's imports, together accounting for 70.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Honduras in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of advance, cross-border shipments of milled rice and broken rice to Honduras declined. In 2020, imports were valued at 9 387 thousand US dollars, marking a contraction of 4.4% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 38%, averaging an annual growth rate of 11.3%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 9 819 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase also in 2019 at 37.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Honduras in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (45.4% of imports in value terms), Asia, not elsewhere specified (18.4% of imports in value terms), and China (12.7% of imports in value terms) were the main markets for Honduras's imports in value terms, together accounting for 76.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Honduras in value, 2017-2020