2024 ended with a record-breaking US$12.96 billion in merchandise exports. This represents an 8.3% year-on-year increase compared to 2023 and a significant 28.2% surge over 2019, the pre-pandemic year, according to preliminary data from the General Customs Agency (DGA).
“This sustained growth in exports reaffirms the pivotal role of foreign trade as an engine of the Dominican economy. It significantly contributes to job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and solidifying the country’s position in international markets. Moreover, it reflects the success of export promotion policies and the resilience of the domestic productive sector, positioning the Dominican Republic as a benchmark for competitiveness and dynamism in the region,” stated Biviana Riveiro, executive director of the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana).
Exports to the United States experienced the most substantial absolute growth, increasing by US$435.6 million, or 6.7%. This performance was driven by products such as cocoa beans (+278.5%), medical devices (+52.2%), plastics (+16.7%), and cane sugar (+35.9%).
Similarly, exports to India surged by US$685.2 million (+86.7%), primarily due to increased shipments of raw gold (83.4%) and cacao beans (+86.4%). Meanwhile, exports to Canada grew by 184% (+US$120.6 million), reaching a total of US$185.8 million, thanks to higher sales of cigars (+US$6.1 million).
In 2024, national regime exports reached US$3.99 billion, growing by 11.3% compared to 2023, while manufacturing free zones achieved a historic high of US$8.6 billion, increasing by 6.9%. This performance underscores the importance of free zones in job creation and their contribution to the country’s sustainable development and economic competitiveness.
A cornerstone of this success has been the implementation of the first National Export Promotion Plan (PNFE), which has made significant and highly satisfactory progress. Of the 278 measures envisaged for the 2020-2030 period, more than 75% have had some level of impact: 27.3% are fully implemented, and nearly 50% are in the execution phase.
With a projection, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), of 5.3% growth in the volume of goods and services exports for 2025, the Dominican Republic is poised to consolidate its leadership in world trade.
Read more in Spanish:
Pro Dominicana
14 January 2025