According to a report released by the Dominican Center for Export Promotion (CEDOPEX), Dominican export income dropped more than 50% in January-February 1999 when compared to the same period in 1998. Dominican exports were US$68.5 million in the first two months of 1999, versus US$139.2 million in the same period of 1998. The total value of exports only decreased 1.94%, from US$496.0 million to US$486.3 million. The exports from free trade zones (FTZs, or "zonas francas" as they are known in the DR), actually rose 17.12%, from US$356.7 million in Jan.-Feb. 1998 compared to US$417.8 million in Jan.-Feb. 1999. The biggest fall came in crude sugar, down to US$323,000 versus US$11.7 million, a 97.25% drop.
