For years Dominican living abroad have sent money home. Last year they sent more than US$2.7 billion to the Dominican Republic. Now, according to the Listin Diario, there is a new wave of remittances: food packages.
“Moving companies” are handling over a thousand container loads of food packages a year. Each container carries between 100 and 120 boxes of food for relatives in the DR. The cost to send such assistance is about an average of US$75.00. The movers, associated under the mantel of Freight Consolidators of the North Region (Asocanorte), number 24 with four more outside the association. According to the people that were interviewed by the Listin Diario reporters, it takes about US$150 to fill one of the food boxes and about US$200 to US$250 to fill one of the plastic tanks that are also used. While shipping is not fast, it is very reliable and many families have come to depend on the boxes for survival. The business is profitable for the movers and the Dominican Customs office. The 1,344 containers that came into Puerto Plata paid over RD$2 million and the Aduana gets another RD$201 million. Working just with averages, the reporters figured that these food packages are bringing in remittances worth very close to US$25 million.