Opportunities by Industry for Importing from Honduras

Agricultural Sector. The Honduran agricultural sector, blessed with a year-round growing season, is seeking to expand its exports to the U.S. by diversifying into a variety of non-traditional crops.

New import opportunities for U.S. companies include jalapeño and other peppers, sweet potatoes, squash, various exotic fruits, and watermelons.

Honduran agriculture companies are actively investing in new technologies to improve yields, and to add value to the nation’s agricultural output by developing their agroindustrial capabilities.

More information:
www.agroemprendedor.org
www.usaid-red.org
www.sag.gob.hn
www.sic.gob.hn

Maquila Sector. Since 1993, the growth of the Honduran maquila sector (offshore assembly for re-export) has been one of the great economic success stories in Central America. Net foreign exchange earnings of $705 million in 2003 positioned the maquila industry as Honduras’ top export category.

Honduras enjoys several advantages in the maquila sector, including the best port in Central America, attractive export processing legislation, tax exemptions, low rents, and a well-trained labor force.

Honduras is seeking to increase its exports in the maquila sector by expanding beyond clothing assembly and sewing into more technically advanced items, such as auto parts, computer and software sector, and electronics assembly plants.

The industry aims to deliver the so-called “complete package” in Honduras, permitting even further cost reductions which will benefit U.S. importers.

More information:
www.ahm-honduras.com

Pork Production. This sector offers a great opportunity for U.S. importers and investors.

The growing urbanization in the United Satates is forcing many U.S. companies to relocate their pork producing operations.

Honduras is seeking to attract these relocating businesses, and boost its own pork exports to the U.S.

The Port of Cortes provides ready access to the U.S. ports of Miami, Houston, Mobile, New Orleans and Tampa.

More information:
www.sic.gob.hn
www.agroemprendedor.org

Mining. Following Hurricane Mitch in 1998, the Honduran National Congress passed a new General Mining Law, which provides substantial incentives to multinational mining companies. Procedures for obtaining concessions have been simplified, and investment security has been increased.

Mining has great potential for Honduras, which has significant unexploited mineral deposits. Principal minerals are zinc, silver, lead, and gold.

More information:
www.minesandcommunities.org/Country/country.htm#H
www.sic.gob.hn
http://portal.rds.org.hn

Other Products. Honduras exports a wide variety of other products, such as shrimp, lobster, dairy products, tobacco and forest products (including some innovative and high quality furniture designs).

Honduras is seeking ways to add more value to these products pre-export, rather than simply exporting the raw material.

Other exports includes palm oil, whose waste products can be redeployed to make electric energy, and even crocodile farms, which export the meat and skin.

More information:
http://www.sic.gob.hn
http://www.hondurasinfo.hn

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