The passage of Tropical Storm Julia affected the main season crops of red beans at germination stage in early October and exerted strong upward pressure on prices in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. In Honduras and Nicaragua, prices of red beans rose more than 30 percent month‑on-month, while they increased by 10 percent in El Salvador. In the aforementioned countries, where prices were already above their year‑earlier levels, supported by high production and transportation costs, the year-on-year price differences ranged from 65 to 100 percent in October. In the countries where black beans are mainly consumed, prices did not change significantly and remained at least 20 percent above their year-earlier levels in October. In Guatemala, despite the negative impact of Tropical Storm Julia, prices have remained virtually unchanged since August, with markets supplied with reserves from the previous season. In Mexico, prices were stable or rose ahead of the main season harvest, forecast at a below-average level, as dry conditions at the beginning of the cropping season delayed and reduced plantings.

Wholesale prices of white maize declined in October for the third consecutive month in Honduras and Nicaragua by more than 7 percent month-on-month, as the main season harvest continued to improve market supplies. Similarly, prices weakened in Guatemala, reflecting improved seasonal availabilities. In El Salvador, prices weakened moderately, as the seasonal downward pressure was partially offset by the adverse impact of the passage of Tropical Storm Julia. In Mexico, prices continued to rise in October, pressured by below-average sowings and a delayed start of the main season harvest, as a result of prolonged dryness between May and July, and were at least 20 percent up from a year earlier. In Puebla, prices were more than double their levels a year earlier, reflecting the sharp increases since July 2022, prompted by concerns over yields on account of dry conditions. Across the subregion, prices remained above their year-earlier levels, owing to rising production and transportation costs.

In the Caribbean, prices of domestically produced maize meal and black beans rose in September in most markets of Haiti, as seasonal downward pressure was more than offset by the below-average main crop output. Sharp price increases were registered in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where the blockage of a main port of fuel entry caused fuel shortages. Renewed massive civil protests following an increase in fuel prices along with heightened insecurity hampered food and fuel supply as well as households’ access to markets. After the short-lived strengthening in August, the Haitian gourde resumed its weakening trend in September and October, adding further upward pressure on prices of food items, including imported rice, wheat flour, sugar and cooking oil.