Paddy rice market in Honduras

Earlier Report Observations

The Honduran paddy rice market experienced notable fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. The market volume peaked at 239.3 thousand tonnes in 2018 before contracting to 201.7 thousand tonnes in 2019, a decline influenced by structural challenges within the domestic rice sector that constrained local supply and contributed to reduced imports. Production partially recovered in 2020, reaching 65.6 thousand tonnes and helping lift the overall market size to 212.6 thousand tonnes.

From 2021 onward, national production entered a sustained downward trend, falling from 53.8 thousand tonnes to 34.1 thousand tonnes by 2023. This decline was driven by persistent structural issues, including the adverse effects of climate change, high production costs, and competitive pressures from multilateral trade agreements like CAFTA-DR, which limited the competitiveness of local growers. Despite the falling output, the total market volume was supported by imports, maintaining levels between 210.7 and 232.7 thousand tonnes during this period.

In 2024, rice imports rose sharply to 241.5 thousand tonnes, underscoring the market's growing reliance on foreign supply. The Honduran government implemented support measures such as the Productive Technological Bonus (BTP) to stem the decline in domestic production, but the sector continues to face headwinds from volatile climate conditions and strong international competition.

Production paddy rice in Honduras

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of paddy rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Honduras produced 65,634 tonnes of paddy rice in 2020, representing a 16.1% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 10.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.2%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 56,523 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 5.2%.

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

Exports paddy rice from Honduras

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Honduras exported 0.4 thousand tonnes of paddy rice, marking a significant 49.5% increase compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports rose by 6.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Nicaragua and Guatemala were the dominant buyers of paddy rice from Honduras, together accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

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

The export market showed volatility during the observed period. The lowest value was recorded in 2019, while the peak occurred in 2017, with a 2.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, paddy rice exports from Honduras reached 86 thousand US dollars, a sharp 49.5% increase from the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Nicaragua and Guatemala accounted for the majority of exports in value terms, jointly representing 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports paddy rice to Honduras

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Honduras imported 147.4 thousand tonnes of paddy rice, a 1.3% year-on-year increase. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 11%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 3.5%. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 179.7 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 35.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 19.0% drop.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, the United States accounted for nearly all paddy rice imports to Honduras in volume, with a share of 95.4% 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

In 2020, Honduras's paddy rice imports totaled 52,993 thousand US dollars, an 18.5% increase from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 31.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 9.5%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 58,262 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 44.3%. The largest decline was in 2019, with a 23.2% decrease.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States effectively dominated paddy rice imports to Honduras in value terms, capturing 95.3% 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