The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic has hit an unprecedented export landmark in March 2026, with total outbound shipments hitting $1,448.6 million — a 20.7% year-over-year surge that represents the highest monthly export value ever recorded for this time of the year. This remarkable growth has been largely fueled by a dramatic boom in raw gold exports, which jumped 78.2% year-over-year to add an extra $110.8 million to the nation’s total export revenue. Beyond the mining sector, other key industries including circuit breakers, tobacco, and medical instruments also posted solid double-digit gains, providing broad-based support for the overall expansion.
When broken down by export destination, the United States retains its position as the Dominican Republic’s largest single trading partner, absorbing just over 50% of all national exports, worth $731.3 million in total. Canada claimed second place on the destination rankings, with shipments to the North American nation soaring 150% year-over-year, a surge directly tied to increased gold exports. Neighboring Haiti came third, posting a robust 36.4% growth in Dominican exports, while Puerto Rico and China rounded out the top five destination markets.
By product category, raw gold claimed the largest share of total exports at 17.1%, followed by medical instruments and premium cigars. The nation’s Free Zones continued to anchor overall export activity, accounting for 58% of total outbound shipments, while exports operating under the National Regime also posted unexpectedly strong expansion that outpaced initial analyst projections.
The strong March performance aligns with broader accelerating economic momentum across the country. For the entire first quarter of 2026, cumulative Dominican exports reached $3,736.9 million, representing an 18.3% year-over-year increase. This sustained export expansion has been underpinned by robust foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, which hit $5,032.8 million across 2025. Long anchored in the tourism, energy, and real estate sectors, FDI is increasingly diversifying into the country’s fast-growing mining and manufacturing industries, creating a more balanced and resilient economic base. Buoyed by these positive trends, the World Bank projects that the Dominican Republic will lead all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in economic growth for 2026.