Business & Economy
June Overnight Tourism Arrivals Decline 5%; San Pedro Continues to Lead Belize’s Tourism Market
Belize recorded 41,940 overnight visitor arrivals in June 2026, according to the Belize Tourism Board's (BTB) latest Tourism Performance Dashboard. While the figure represents a 5.0% decline compared to June 2025, the data continues to highlight the country's reliance on the North American market and the importance of San Pedro as one of Belize's leading tourism destinations.
Business & Economy
Chicken Prices Rise Again as Production Costs Continue to Climb
Consumers across Belize will once again pay more for chicken after the Belize Poultry Association (BPA) announced a 12-cent-per-pound increase, effective Monday, July 6th. The adjustment comes just four months after a six-cent increase implemented in March, bringing the total increase this year to 18 cents per pound. According to the BPA, the latest price adjustment is necessary due to the continued rise in production costs, including higher prices for feed ingredients and fuel.
Business & Economy
PUC Maintains BEL Electricity Rates, Rejects Automatic Monthly Tariff Adjustments
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has maintained Belize Electricity Limited's (BEL) current base electricity rates for the 2026-2027 tariff period while declining the utility's request to introduce automatic monthly rate adjustments. Instead, the Commission will evaluate the proposal through a closely monitored Regulatory Sandbox before considering its wider implementation.
Business & Economy
Belize Sugar Crop Ends Early, Falls Short of One Million-Ton Target
The 2026 sugar cane crop in northern Belize officially ended on June 20th after producing approximately 815,000 tons of cane, well below the industry's one-million-ton target. Industry officials have described the harvest as the lowest in more than three decades, citing unfavorable weather, labor shortages, and reduced cane availability.
Business & Economy
Belize Postal Service Temporarily Suspends Shipments Containing Goods to the European Union
The Belize Postal Service (BPS) announced on June 30th that it has temporarily suspended processing postal shipments containing goods destined for countries in the European Union (EU). The measure follows the introduction of new EU import regulations that significantly change customs procedures for goods entering member states.
Business & Economy
Lobster Season Opens with Strong First-Day Catches in San Pedro
The 2026-2027 lobster season officially opened in Belize on July 1st, with fishermen in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, heading out before dawn for their first catch of the season. By midday, many returned to their docks with hundreds of Caribbean spiny lobsters, and restaurant owners and seafood buyers were waiting to purchase the day's catch.
Business & Economy
Belize to Lead Regional MSME Agenda as New Pro Tempore President of CENPROMYPE-SICA
Belize has assumed a key regional leadership role in shaping the future of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by officially taking over the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Regional Center for the Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CENPROMYPE) of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
Business & Economy
San Pedro Town Council Reports $8.66 Million Surplus in Latest Audit
The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has released its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. The independent audit report, completed on March 27, 2026, was made public by the Council on June 22nd. According to the report, the Council's financial position improved significantly during the year, ending with a surplus of BZD $8.66 million and total net assets of BZD $36.97 million.