Honduras is scrambling to safeguard its shrimp exports to Mexico, a vital market for its southern aquaculture industry. On October 18, a Mexican federal court ordered a ban on shrimp imports from Central America, Belize, and Panama, alleging that these countries were facilitating the rerouting of Ecuadorian shrimp into Mexico. The decision threatens to upend Honduras’s shrimp trade, prompting swift action from both industry leaders and the government.

The National Association of Aquaculturists of Honduras (ANDAH), led by president Juan Carlos Javier, has fiercely contested the accusations. Javier has denied claims from Sinaloa shrimp farmers that producers in Choluteca and Valle are channeling Ecuadorian shrimp into Mexico. In response, ANDAH has launched legal efforts to protect the region’s farm-raised shrimp and ensure continued access to the Mexican market.

Economic Stakes and Diplomatic Moves

The stakes are high for Honduras, where the shrimp industry is a significant economic driver. ANDAH has urged the Honduran government to press Mexican authorities to reconsider the closure, warning that a ban would inflict severe financial losses and eliminate thousands of jobs. With limited alternative markets for the perishable product, the industry’s survival hinges on maintaining this trade corridor.

Mexico remains open to Honduran shrimp for now. However, uncertainty lingers as the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (Senasica-Mexico) has yet to clarify its next steps. The agency could appeal the federal judge’s injunction or enforce a border closure, leaving the industry in limbo.

Government Intervention and Trade Figures

The Honduran government has stepped into the fray, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatching a letter to its Mexican counterparts urging them to keep the market open. This diplomatic push underscores the shrimp trade’s importance to the national economy, particularly in the southern regions reliant on aquaculture.

According to ANDAH data, the industry’s export performance underscores its value: in 2022, Honduras shipped 9.6 million pounds of shrimp to Mexico, generating $28.7 million. By September of last year, export volumes had surged to 16.8 million pounds, yielding $49.6 million. These figures reflect a robust trade in fresh and frozen shrimp presentations, now at risk of disruption.

A Fragile Lifeline for Southern Honduras

For now, Honduras’s shrimp farmers hold their breath as they await Mexico’s final decision. The industry’s legal and diplomatic efforts reflect a desperate bid to preserve a lifeline that supports livelihoods and regional stability.

Yet the outcome remains uncertain. With Senasica’s response pending, the specter of a closed border looms large, threatening to unravel years of growth in Honduras’s aquaculture sector. For a country where shrimp is more than a commodity but a cornerstone of economic resilience, the coming weeks will prove decisive.