Wholesale prices of white maize mostly declined across the subregion in September 2024 due to improved market availability from the start of the main crop harvest. In Guatemala and in the two major markets of Honduras, maize prices showed slight decreases in September, in line with improved supplies from the late start of the main crop harvest. Prices in Guatemala and Honduras were lower compared to previous year’s levels due to the above-average output in 2023/24 and low international prices. Wholesale prices of maize were 4 percent lower month-on-month in El Salvador in September, due to improved availability from the start of the main season harvest, after three months of consecutive price increase. In El Salvador, maize prices were about 26 percent below the previous year’s level, on account of lower prices in the United States of America, the main exporting partner.

In Mexico, wholesale prices of white maize exhibited mixed trends across the markets in September. In Mexico City, Guadalajara (Jalisco) and Culiacan (Sinaloa), maize prices increased for the second consecutive month, reflecting tight seasonal availabilities ahead of the start of the main crop harvest in October. Notable exceptions were Puebla (Sinaloa) and Xalapa (Jalisco) markets, where prices decreased by 7 percent in September. Prices were mostly higher year-on-year across the markets, reflecting low supplies from the below-average output in 2023.

Wholesale prices of red and black beans were lower month‑on‑month across the subregion, mostly in line with improved seasonal availabilities. Wholesale prices of red beans in Tegucigalpa market in Honduras were 14 percent lower month-on-month in September, declining for the second consecutive month due to improved supply from the Primera season harvest. Similarly, in El Salvador, wholesale prices of red beans moderately declined in September, following the start of the main crop harvest. In Honduras and El Salvador, prices were about 10 percent lower than their year-earlier levels, due to improved year-on-year imports from Nicaragua, the main source of red beans exports in the subregion. Wholesale prices of black beans declined in September in Guatemala (Guatemala City market), after rising for six consecutive months, reflecting higher availabilities from the start of the main harvest. Prices were about 8 percent higher year-on-year in September, due to the lower year-on-year supply from the 2023 output. In Mexico, wholesale prices of black beans were slightly lower month‑on-month across the markets, in line with increased market availabilities from the main harvest but were higher year-on-year due to the low 2023 production.

In Costa Rica, after a short-lived decline in August, wholesale prices of rice increased month-on-month in September, and were 13 percent above their September 2023 levels, reflecting the 25 percent reduction of imports since the beginning of 2024. Retail prices of rice (first quality) in the Dominican Republic were stable in September, reflecting adequate market supplies at the end of the main paddy crop harvest. Rice prices were about 20 percent higher than the previous year, in line with the low 2023 output and higher year-on-year international prices.

In Haiti, retail prices of black beans showed mixed trends across the markets in August, while retail prices of domestically produced maize meal were lower than in previous months, reflecting increased supplies from the finalization of the 2024 main season harvest in August. Maize prices were 12 percent higher than in August 2023 in Port-au-Prince market, on account of the year-on-year reduction in production caused by worsening insecurity conditions across the country. In most major markets, prices of imported rice, vegetable oil and wheat flour were stable or declined, due to the stability of the gourde against the United States dollar in August.