Dominican beauty products are finding ready markets in the United States, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, St. Martin, the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands and Central America, according to the Dominican Beauty Products Cluster. New markets are also opening in some African countries, including the Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.
Dominican Beauty Products Cluster president Noel Urena, manager Amable Padilla, board members Pedro Alorda, Isabel Esteban and Daniel Lomba, and Carlos Rodriguez, projects director for the Dominican Republic Industries Association, said they were confident that the sector would become a flagship for Dominican exports.
As reported in Hoy, last year’s exports were US$30 million, up 20% compared to 2013. In 2008 and 2009, exports were US$11 to US$12 million.
Dominican beauty salons and specialists who have emigrated have introduced local products to their customers, helping create the demand. So far, customers have sourced their products locally, and they have yet to market them abroad and start to create an export culture.
The Cluster says that the next step is to promote local production of raw materials in order to decrease the cost of the products.
The Dominican Beauty Products Cluster is backed by the Dominican Republic Industries Association (AIRD).
Industria cosméticos podría ser buque insignia exportaciones