Honduras exported 78.3 million dollars worth of agricultural goods in the first month of the year, i.e. 22.2 percent more than it exported in January 2016.
According to a report from the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), the increase was driven by sales of bananas, melons, and watermelons.
Banana exports amounted to US $46.5 million, 12.6 million more than in the first month of the previous year.
The 48.3 percent increase in volume, given the increase in demand from Ireland and the United States, coupled with the application of better planting, fertilization, cutting, and pest control techniques, contributed greatly to the increase in exports; partly offsetting a 7.5 percent drop in price.
Melon and watermelon exports amounted to US $14.6 million, 2.4 million higher than in the previous season, mainly due to the 25.1 percent improvement in the fruits' price.
Expectations for this year are to exceed the sales generated by these three products at the end of 2016.
Banana exports generated 509.0 million dollars in foreign currency, 4 million more than in 2015, supported by a 4.5 percent increase in its international price.
Meanwhile, even though the volume of melon and watermelon exports increased by one percent, sales of these products amounted to US $ 53.3 million, 6.2 percent ($ 3.5 million) less than in the previous year, mainly due to the decrease in international prices (7.1%), according to data of the Central Bank of Honduras.
Source: latribuna.hn