The Dominican Republic has witnessed a remarkable surge in larimar exports, with figures skyrocketing from 85,480 pounds in 2024 to 291,340 pounds this year, as reported by Joel Santos Echavarría, the Minister of Energy and Mines. Santos emphasized the importance of integrating larimar into the nation’s tourism offerings, stating, “We are a tourist country, and larimar must be part of that Dominican tourist product.” He also underscored the stone’s protection under the International Registration of the Larimar Barahona Origin Designation and celebrated the establishment of the first Artisanal Mining Emergency Response Brigade as a significant milestone. These remarks were made during a promotional fair in Barahona province, marking National Larimar Day, where miners, artisans, designers, and brigade members were honored for their contributions to the mineral’s industrialization. Rolando Muñoz Mejía, the Mining Director at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, highlighted that approximately 950 workers are engaged daily in larimar extraction. However, the industry faces challenges, as voiced by miners and artisans. They pointed to the lack of financial resources, low market prices for raw and crafted larimar, and insufficient promotion as critical areas needing attention. Fernando González, a seasoned miner with over four decades of experience, noted that while a pound of larimar currently sells for RD$4,000 to RD$5,000, its unique value could command higher prices. Similarly, artisan Alexander Vargas called for increased promotion and financial support to enhance extraction methods and boost international awareness of larimar’s uniqueness.
The country has exported more than 291,000 pounds of larimar this year
