Browse Data and Analysis

In July 2021, authorities detected African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic (DR). The disease, which rapidly spread throughout the country, crippled local swine production, but boosted export opportunities for U.S. swine meat producers to the Dominican market.

The Dominican Republic continues to be a strong market for U.S. bulk agricultural products (e.g., corn), intermediate goods (e.g., Soybean meal), and high value consumer-oriented products (e.g., processed food products), reaching a total export value of $1.59 billion in 2021.

The Dominican Republic (DR) continues to ban and/or restrict U.S. poultry exports from states with any type of detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), regardless of the outbreak being reported as poultry or non-poultry.

Although exports of poultry to the Dominican Republic are on pace to set historic records in 2022, the United States continues to lose export market share from Brazil. As of June, 2022, the United States has accounted for 56 percent (22,074 MT) of total poultry exports to the DR (64,392 MT); Brazil has accounted for 44 percent (17,429 MT) of those exports after only accounting for 25 percent in 2021 and 0 percent in 2020 and prior.

For Marketing Year October 2022/September 2023 (MY 2022/23), Post forecasts overall sugar production in the Dominican Republic (DR) to increase to 630,000 metric tons (MT) due to favorable weather conditions. During MY 2021/22, total sugar production reached 625,391 MT, a 2 percent increase from MY 2020/21 due to favorable rainfall patterns that improved agricultural yields.

For 2022, robust tourism demand will be a key driver for economic growth in the Dominican Republic (DR). The World Tourism Organization recognized the Caribbean nation as its top-ranked country after its rapid recovery in tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dominican Republic (DR) achieved a record year for rice production in calendar year 2021 (CY 2021) of 654,156 metric tons (MT) and CY 2022 is showing similar results with estimated production of 658,000 MT. The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a significant impact on production and consumption of rice; meanwhile, local retail prices have slightly risen. As of July 2022, the milled rice tariff rate quota (TRQ) has reached a 72 percent usage rate and is on track to exceed 100 percent.

This report summarizes the key technical and import requirements for food and agricultural products imposed by the Government of the Dominican Republic. As of June, 2022 no changes were implemented on technical and import requirements for food and agricultural products.

This report describes the major export certificates required by the Government of the Dominican Republic (DR) for imports of food and agricultural products. No substantive changes were published as of June 2022.

The Dominican Republic is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economies in Latin America and the Caribbean. With U.S. agricultural products exports reaching $1.8 billion and consumer-oriented exports reaching $904.2 million in 2021, the country represents the fourth-largest market in the Western Hemisphere, only behind Mexico, Canada, and Colombia.

On March 7, 2022, President Luis Abinader addressed the nation to announce 10 policy measures to ease inflationary pressures in the Dominican Republic (DR) due to the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

With expected normal rainfall patterns over the main sugarcane production zones, Post forecasts sugar production in the Dominican Republic to be 630,000 metric tons (MT) in Marketing Year (MY) 2022/2023 (October/September), a 2 percent increase over the previous period last year.