A maritime solution has been found to Dominican trade with Haiti. The director of operations of DP World Caucedo, Ramón Badía explained to Diario Libre that a multiple cargo ship will begin operations on the third week of March 2022 to transport Dominican goods to Haiti. DP World Caucedo is bringing a ship that is adequate for Dominican cargo needs. The ship will also be used for cargo transfers of goods coming from Asia and Europe. The ship will handle multiple types of cargo.
Haiti in 2021 was the third most important trading partner with the Dominican Republic. Trade was estimated at over US$954.5 million. Only the United States (US$5.9 billion) and Switzerland (US$961.4 million) imported more Dominican goods. Trade with Switzerland is mainly gold exports.
Most of the trade with Haiti had been going by land. Diario Libre reports that in January 2022, Dominican exports to Haiti were US$83 million, or 9.7% of the country’s total exports for the month that were US$413.7 million.
Industry & Commerce Minister Victor (Ito) Bisonó told Diario Libre that while DP World is starting with one ship, if trade with Haiti picks up another two could be employed. Bisonó said the country will be exporting cement, steel rods, pastas, cold cuts and other products.
The main motivation for the consolidation of the maritime trade route is safety, especially at a time when Haiti is controlled by criminal gangs. The gangs have kidnapped Dominican freight truckers in the past.
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Diario Libre
10 March 2022