Exports to Haiti are down considerably this year due to the escalating of the political and social crisis in the neighboring country. Protestors in Haiti demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moise. The situation has yet to improve.
Meanwhile, Dominican exports are significantly affected, as reported in Listin Diario. Dominican exports between January and October 2019 were US$403.5 million, down 9.3% from US$445.1 million for the same period last year.
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez says the Haitian instability has taken a heavy toll on agriculture exports, mainly affecting egg producers. He said exports in 2018 were 30 million eggs, but the total eggs exported in 2019 so far have been around 10 million.
From May to August 2019, the Dominican Republic exported on average US$42.6 million to Haiti (US$170.6 million during that period). But this was lower than the US$43.3 million monthly average in 2018. The total for May to August in 2018 was US$173.5 million.
But then in September, exports took a bigger dive. September exports totaled US$31.2 million compared to US$67.8 million, or a decline of 53.9%.
Exports in October recovered somewhat. The total was US$43.9 million, that was higher than the US$39.4 million recorded for the same month in 2018.
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Diario Libre
10 December 2019