Dominican Republic exports surge 35.1% on gold, edibles, and minerals

Dominican Republic's exports surged by 35.1% to $3.34 billion in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Directorate General of Customs (DGA).

This growth was heavily driven by three key sectors. The stones and metals sector accounted for 57.1% of total exports, totaling $1.90 billion. Within this, gold alone represented 85.8% of the sector's value and a significant 49.0% of all national exports, amounting to $1.63 billion. Excluding gold, the stones and metals sector's contribution drops to just 8.1% of total exports.

The second largest contributor was the edibles sector, with $665.1 million in exports (19.9% of the total). Cacao was the primary product in this group, contributing $117.8 million, or 3.5% of national exports.

Chemicals and minerals ranked third, with exports of $295.0 million (8.8% of the total). Cement and copper were the main products, collectively making up 4.8% of national exports.

Collectively, these three sectors concentrated 85.9% of the nation's exports, highlighting a high degree of specialization. While this focus has leveraged comparative advantages, a broader diversification into higher value-added goods could reduce reliance on a limited number of products and markets, thereby strengthening the economy's resilience to shifts in international demand and prices. This analysis was a collaboration with the Regional Center for Sustainable Economic Strategies (Crees).