After severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of the People’s Republic of China on 18 May 2018, trade between China and the Dominican Republic has indeed expanded—but with minimal benefits for the Caribbean nation.
Diario Libre reports that from 2020 to 2024, bilateral trade exceeded US$22.4 billion, citing statistics from the Dominican Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana). Yet, the bulk of that figure stems from Chinese exports flooding the Dominican market. The resulting trade deficit has ballooned to nearly US$20 billion over that period, exposing a relationship that many now see as one-sided.
Imports from China soared by almost 78% in four years, reaching US$5.2 billion in 2024, up from US$2.9 billion in 2020. These imports include a wide range of products—over 5,000 in total—led by laptops and tablets (US$616.9 million), smartphones (US$607.7 million), and telecom devices (US$478.5 million). Solar panels, plastics, motorcycles, and vaccines also dominate the import list.
So far in 2025, the trend continues. Imports have already hit US$2.1 billion through May, with smartphones alone accounting for $91 million. Automobiles and other consumer goods from China also feature prominently.
In contrast, Dominican exports to China remain modest. Between 2020 and 2024, total exports reached just US$1.27 billion—less than one-tenth of what China sent to the island nation. The main export has been ferronickel, totaling US$520.9 million over the period, followed by copper minerals, medical instruments, and tobacco.
Through the first five months of 2025, Dominican exports to China reached US$130.6 million, down 1.5% from the same period in 2024, raising further questions about the sustainability and mutuality of the partnership.
Recently authorities detained a major would-be export to China of metal cabling purchased for the Los Alcarrizos metro line 2, but stolen for export purposes. The expensive cabling was exported as metal wastes and would was consigned to buyers in China.
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Diario Libre
DR1 News
DR1 News
1 July 2025