Santo Domingo – Official trade statistics released for the Dominican Republic reveal that the nation’s total merchandise imports reached a cumulative $24.44 billion over the first nine months of 2026, with its two largest bilateral trade partners, the United States and China, combining to make up 60.4% of all incoming goods purchases for the period. The U.S. retained its decades-long position as the Dominican Republic’s top import supplier, accounting for 42.1% of the total import value, while China held the second spot with a 18.4% share. Rounding out the top 10 key import sources are Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Colombia, Japan, Italy, and Argentina, a cohort that collectively represents 79.8% of all goods shipped into the Caribbean nation. Among these leading trade partners, Spain posted a notable 12.5% year-over-year surge in exports to the Dominican Republic, fueled by robust local demand for petroleum derivatives, electrical and electronic equipment, and specialized railway transport vehicles. In stark contrast, Italy recorded the steepest contraction among major suppliers, with the value of goods it shipped to the Dominican Republic plummeting 31.1% over the nine-month window. Breakdowns of monthly performance show that March and June 2026 tied for the strongest year-on-year import growth rates, both clocking in at 16.9%. February was the sole month to register a decline, with incoming purchases falling 6.4% compared to the same month in 2025. In aggregate, the Dominican Republic’s total import value rose by $2.05 billion year-over-year across the January to September 2026 period, a surge that analysts largely attribute to elevated global market prices for crude oil and its refined byproducts. This trade data offers critical insights into the evolving supply chain dynamics and consumption patterns shaping the Dominican Republic’s 2026 economic landscape.
U.S. and China account for 60.4% of Dominican Republic imports in 2026
