Salt, pure NaCl and sea water market in Honduras

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the salt market volume in Honduras grew gradually from 65,437 t to 67,358 t, despite climatic factors that constrained domestic production. Output remained steady at 60,000 t, but internal demand consistently exceeded supply, requiring imports to cover the shortfall. In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, salt production in the southern region continued uninterrupted, sustaining around 15,000 direct and indirect jobs, though the country still relied on imports from Mexico and Nicaragua.

The market expanded by 15% to 77,554 t in 2021, supported by institutional efforts from the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) to industrialize and process salt, focusing on small and medium producers. Then in 2022, the market more than doubled to 158,835 t, driven primarily by a surge in imports to 99,579 t. This growth occurred amid high inflation and rising food prices, which affected purchasing power, alongside reported wage increases in related sectors that influenced domestic consumption.

After 2022, imports declined to 29,858 t in 2023 and 22,633 t in 2024, while the SAG continued to promote the organization of the salt sector and producer associations. Economic growth in early 2023, despite the El Niño phenomenon affecting agriculture, provided a stable backdrop for salt production and consumption.

Production salt, pure NaCl and sea water in Honduras

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of salt, pure NaCl and sea water, 2017-2020

World map of production of salt, pure NaCl and sea water, 2017-2020

In 2020, Honduras produced 60 000 tonnes of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water, showing no significant change from 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 0.0%, while the largest increase also occurred in 2018 at 0.0%.

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

Exports salt, pure NaCl and sea water from Honduras

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 450 tonnes, then peaked in 2020 at 5 479 tonnes, representing a 12.2-fold increase. This surge marked an abrupt year-over-year growth of 1 116.4% from 2019 to 2020. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 81.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Guatemala and Nicaragua formed the dominant pair of markets for exports in kind, jointly accounting for 85.1% of total flows, with other countries making up the remaining share.

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

Market behavior was volatile during these years. Exports in value terms hit their minimum in 2019 at 127 thousand US dollars, then reached a maximum in 2020 at 878 thousand US dollars, showing a 6.9-fold variation. This represented a year-over-year increase of 589.1% from 2019 to 2020. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 67.3%.

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

Over the 2017–2020 period, Guatemala (55.8% of exports in value terms), Nicaragua (23.2%), and the United Kingdom (8.5%) consistently held leading positions in the country structure of exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 87.5% 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 salt, pure NaCl and sea water to Honduras

Imports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during the period. Imports in kind reached their trough in 2019 at 7 182 tonnes, after peaking in 2017, with a 2.3-fold change between these years. In 2020, Honduras imported 12 836 tonnes of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water, up 78.7% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 52.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (23.0% of imports in kind), Nicaragua (17.9%), and Chile (16.9%) were the main markets for imports in kind, together accounting for 57.8% 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

Imported salt, pure NaCl, and sea water volumes in Honduras declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 3 685 thousand US dollars, indicating a modest loss of 3.1% relative to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 15.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.6%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Colombia (59.2% of imports in value terms), the United States (13.0%), and the United Kingdom (9.1%) remained the main markets for imports in value terms of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water to Honduras, jointly taking 81.4% 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