The Dominican Republic’s export economy with Haiti is poised to break the $1 billion barrier in 2025, according to the latest trade data released by the General Directorate of Customs (DGA). Between January and October 2025, bilateral trade reached $982.9 million, dominated by $977.13 million in Dominican exports to Haiti with only $5.77 million in return imports.
This substantial trade flow represents a remarkable 30.09% increase compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic economic relationships despite regional challenges. The trade ecosystem involves 1,212 exporters from 20 Dominican provinces trading 1,821 different product categories, demonstrating significant diversification in commercial exchange.
The export structure reveals that 70.07% of shipments operate under the national regime, followed by free trade zones (22.67%), temporary admission (3.80%), and re-export mechanisms (3.45%). Dominant export categories include unalloyed iron or steel bars (11.01%), hydraulic cements including colored variants (9.43%), and wheat or mixed grain flour (6.27%), positioning the Dominican Republic as a critical supplier of industrial, construction, and food production inputs to Haiti.
Free trade zone exports show particular concentration in textiles, with knitted t-shirts and undershirts accounting for 35.09% of shipments, followed by other cotton fabrics (29.26%) and textile yarns and ropes (5.24%).
Conversely, imports from Haiti have experienced a dramatic 56.81% decline, reflecting diminished production capacity likely attributable to ongoing political instability and security challenges within Haiti. This growing trade imbalance underscores the asymmetric nature of the economic relationship between the two neighboring nations.