# Honduras (HN)

**Capital:** Tegucigalpa  
**Currency:** Honduran Lempira (HNL) (HNL)  
**Population:** 10,825,703 — Older stored figure; source year not documented.  
**Area:** 112,492 km²

> Honduras is a Central American transit and export country with coasts on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. Puerto Cortés, the region's leading deepwater port, together with the San Pedro Sula and Palmerola airports forms the logistics backbone. Key goods are coffee, bananas, palm oil and maquila textiles.

Honduras (ISO code: HN) lies in Central America, bordering Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, with coasts on both the Caribbean (Atlantic) and the Pacific. It is a presidential republic facing ongoing challenges around corruption, crime and the rule of law. The climate is tropical, with humid coastal lowlands, mountainous interior and pronounced rainy and dry seasons. Agriculture is central to the economy, especially bananas, coffee and palm oil, complemented by maquila manufacturing, services and mining. Foreign trade is decisive: exports are mainly agricultural and industrial goods, while the country depends heavily on imports of fuel, machinery and consumer goods. Strategic ports such as Puerto Cortés, the leading deepwater port of Central America, anchor the country's transit and logistics role for regional supply chains. The national currency is the Lempira (HNL).

**Top Import Partners:** US, CN, GT, SV, MX

**Top Export Partners:** US, DE, GT, SV, NI

**Top Import Goods:** Mineral oils, Machinery, Vehicles, Electronics, Food

**Top Export Goods:** Coffee, Bananas, Textiles, Crustaceans, Palm oil

**Key Airports:**
- [Goloson International Airport (LCE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/goloson-international-airport-lce)
- [Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/juan-manuel-galvez-international-airport-rtb)
- [La Laguna Airport (GJA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/la-laguna-airport-gja)
- [Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base (XPL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/palmerola-international-airport-jose-enrique-soto-cano-air-base-airport-xpl)
- [Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ramon-villeda-morales-international-airport-sap)
- [Tela Airport (TEA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/tela-airport-tea)
- [Toncontín International Airport (TGU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/toncontin-international-airport-tgu)
- [Trujillo Airport (TJI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/trujillo-airport-tji)
- [Acensa Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/acensa-airport-173)
- [Agua Caliente Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/agua-caliente-airport-13895)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** ISV 15 percent standard rate  
**Customs complexity:** medium  
**Customs system:** Electronic clearance via the SARAH system (Sistema Automatizado de Rentas Aduaneras de Honduras) of Aduanas; ISV collected at the border.  
**Customs authority:** [Honduran Customs Administration (Aduanas)](https://www.aduanas.gob.hn/)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Transit country / Caribbean-Pacific gateway of Central America  
**Economic area:** SIECA / MCCA (Central American Common Market); CAFTA-DR  
**Logistics risk:** medium  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** medium  
**Pharma/cold chain:** medium

## FAQ

### What is the import sales tax (ISV) in Honduras?

The standard ISV rate is 15 percent. A rate of 18 percent applies to alcohol, tobacco, soft drinks and business-class air tickets. The tax is administered by the SAR.

### Which customs system does Honduras use?

Imports and exports are processed electronically through the SARAH system of the Administración Aduanera de Honduras.

### What is the most important port in Honduras?

Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean coast is the leading deepwater port of Central America and handles most container traffic. San Lorenzo (Henecán) serves the Pacific coast.

### Which free trade agreements apply to Honduras?

Honduras is part of CAFTA-DR (with the USA), the Central American Common Market (MCCA/SIECA) and the trade pillar of the EU-Central America Agreement, provisionally applied since 2013.

### Which airports are relevant for air cargo?

The main cargo airports are Ramón Villeda Morales (SAP) in San Pedro Sula, the new Palmerola airport (XPL) near Comayagua and Toncontín (TGU) in Tegucigalpa.

### What seasonal risks affect logistics?

The hurricane and rainy season runs from June to November. Storms such as Eta and Iota (2020) caused severe damage to infrastructure and roads.

### What are the main exports of Honduras?

Key exports include coffee, bananas, palm oil, crustaceans and textiles and apparel from the maquila industry.

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://www.aduanas.gob.hn/](https://www.aduanas.gob.hn/)
- [https://www.sar.gob.hn/impuesto-sobre-ventas-isv/](https://www.sar.gob.hn/impuesto-sobre-ventas-isv/)
- [https://sistemas.aduanas.gob.hn/sarah/](https://sistemas.aduanas.gob.hn/sarah/)
- [https://enp.hn/](https://enp.hn/)
- [https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/honduras-trade-agreements](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/honduras-trade-agreements)
- [https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/central-america_en](https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/central-america_en)
- [https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=HN](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=HN)
- [https://palmerolaairport.com/en/homepage/](https://palmerolaairport.com/en/homepage/)

*Last verified: 2026-06-23*

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*Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hn](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hn)*

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