Against a backdrop of widespread geopolitical instability that has disrupted supply chains and suppressed cross-border commerce across the globe, the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Customs (DGA) has delivered a surprisingly strong performance in revenue collection for the first half of 2026. Official data released by the agency shows total collections reached RD$129.24 billion between January and June, marking a 2.6% year-over-year increase compared to the same six-month period in 2025.
The growth trend accelerated sharply into the second quarter, with standalone revenue for June 2026 hitting RD$24.16 billion. That figure represents a 15.4% jump from June 2025, translating to an additional RD$3.23 billion in public revenue generated from customs duties alone in just one month.
Beyond the aggregate six-month and monthly gains, the DGA notched a new historic milestone in daily collections this period: the agency recorded a single-day revenue haul of RD$1.88 billion, breaking the previous all-time record of RD$1.85 billion set back in 2022. This new single-day benchmark underscores the gradual strengthening of the Dominican Republic’s trade activity through the first half of the year.
In a statement outlining the drivers behind the unexpected growth, DGA Director Nelson Arroyo highlighted two key institutional efforts that have delivered results. First, ongoing initiatives to streamline and digitize cargo clearance processes at the country’s major ports and international airports have cut wait times, reduced bureaucratic friction, and facilitated faster movement of goods across borders. Second, the agency has ramped up enforcement of customs controls to reduce duty evasion and close loopholes that previously cost the public purse significant revenue.
Arroyo also pointed to underlying trade data that signals domestic economic resilience: the number of imported containers entering the country under the standard consumption regime rose by 1.5% over the first six months of 2026. This uptick in volume, he noted, confirms that Dominican trade activity remains robust even as global markets contend with overlapping geopolitical and economic headwinds that have dampened cross-border commerce in many other regions.