The Dominican Republic’s cement industry has solidified its position as a core engine of the country’s export economy, cementing the nation’s status as the leading exporter of cement, lime, and gypsum across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. New trade data analyzed by economic researchers offers a clear snapshot of both the industry’s recent gains and the broader challenges facing the Dominican Republic’s trade sector.
New figures drawn from the General Directorate of Customs (DGA), and compiled and published by the Regional Center for Sustainable Economic Strategies (Crees), show that total Dominican exports reached $3.34 billion in the first six months of 2026. That marks a robust 35.1% year-over-year increase compared to the same January-to-June period in 2025. The chemicals and minerals sector, one of the country’s most consistent trade contributors, accounted for $295 million of that first-half total – equal to 8.8% of all national exports. When broken down further, cement and copper alone made up 4.8% of the country’s total export revenue in the period.
Data from a 2025 report published by the Dominican Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) underscores just how dominant the country has become in the regional building materials market. Across the entire LAC region, total combined exports of cement, lime, and gypsum hit $581.3 million in 2025. The Dominican Republic captured a 25.4% share of that regional total, outperforming historic regional leaders Mexico and Guatemala to claim the top spot as the region’s largest exporter of these materials.
Representatives from the Dominican Association of Portland Cement Producers (Adocem) note that the strong export performance from the cement sector proves the value of investing in a resilient domestic industrial base. A robust local manufacturing ecosystem, the association argues, can both satisfy domestic demand for core building materials and successfully compete against international producers in cross-border markets.
While welcoming the strong growth in exports across key sectors like cement, Crees has sounded a note of caution about the long-term stability of the Dominican Republic’s trade profile. The economic research center points out that the country’s export revenue remains heavily concentrated in a small handful of sectors, creating vulnerability to global market shocks. To mitigate this risk, Crees is calling for urgent policy action to expand trade diversification and boost the production and export of higher-value-added goods.
Adocem has aligned itself with the push for greater export diversification, arguing that strengthening local manufacturing across core sectors is a key pathway to achieving that goal. A thriving domestic manufacturing industry, the association notes, drives increased foreign and domestic investment, spurs innovation, pushes firms to improve operational efficiency, and encourages the adoption of more sustainable production practices – all of which support the shift toward a more diverse, value-driven export economy.
To continue building on the progress seen in the cement sector and expand that success to other industries, Adocem emphasized the critical role of thoughtful public policy. The association called for government policies that prioritize productive private investment, guarantee legal certainty for industrial operations, strengthen national competitiveness in global markets, and improve domestic producers’ access to international markets. These policy adjustments, the group argues, would allow domestic industries to scale up production, generate higher levels of economic value, and drive more inclusive, sustainable growth across the Dominican economy.