For individuals or firms interested in exporting agricultural or food products to the DR, please be aware that there is an office of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) located in the U.S. Embassy, Santo Domingo. Contact information for the FAS Office is as follows: 

USDA-Foreign Agricultural Affairs 

U.S. Embassy  

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

Phone: (809) 368-7741  

E-mail: AgsantoDomingo@fas.usda.gov 

Website: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ 

In addition, FAS publishes an annual Exporter Guide providing more detailed information on the structure and dynamics of the Dominican food and agricultural market.  The 2021 Exporter Guide Report is available here.  

Wheat 

Wheat is a best prospect industry sector for this country. The following is a market and trade data overview:  

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars 

Sources: Unofficial estimate by FAS based on industry and U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division; DR Customs; Trade Data Monitor. 

Wheat consumption in Dominican Republic (DR) during calendar year (CY) 2021 reached $165 million.  The increase is due to the recovery of Dominican exports of flour and baked goods, as well as the recovery in the number of tourists visiting the country after the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional (HRI) sector.   

Exports of wheat flour and products manufactured in Dominican Republic to Haiti and other Caribbean markets increased during CY 2021 driven by increased demand of wheat products from international markets, specifically Haiti; where the population is turning to the use of wheat versus other grains such as rice.  While the U.S. market share is stable, the United States faces increased competition from Canada in the local market.  Historically, Canada has provided wheat to the Dominican market in years of overproduction.  However, during recent years, Canada has been regularly supplying Dominican millers. Under the right price conditions, local millers cite a preference for Canadian wheat due to prices and higher protein content.   

Opportunities 

Product quality, geographic proximity, and price, in addition to market support and technical assistance efforts, such as the ones provided by the U.S. Wheat Associates, will assure continued U.S. presence in the Dominican market. As a basic food item utilized for bread and pasta production, wheat is exempted from import taxes.  However, given the increase in international wheat prices, wheat imports from the United States may continue to face competition in the short term. 

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo agricultural specialist covering the grain sector is Jennifer Cáceres, jennifer.caceres@usda.gov. 

Soybean Meal 

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country.  The following is a market and trade data overview:  

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars 

Sources: Unofficial estimate by FAS based on industry and U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division; Trade Data Monitor.  

During Calendar Year 2021 (CY 2021), Dominican Republic imported 473,814 MT ($221 million) of soybean meal (SBM).  The United States supplied 100 percent of that total.  SBM is used mainly in feed formulation for poultry and swine.  The market is dependent on the poultry sector, which consumes about 70 percent of all feed ingredient imports. The swine and cattle sector consume 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.  Nonetheless, during CY 2022 SBM imports are expected to decrease due to the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF) on domestic pork production and the impact of lower prices from Argentina. Despite the historic dominance from the United States in the SBM market, new players such as Argentina may present competition in the short term. 

Opportunities 

Product quality, geographic proximity, and price, in addition to market support and technical assistance from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), will assure continued presence of U.S. SBM in the Dominican market.  In addition, as a basic feed item for the poultry, swine, and dairy sectors, soybean meal is exempted from import taxes. 

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo agricultural specialist covering the oilseeds sector is Jennifer Cáceres, jennifer.caceres@usda.gov. 

Corn 

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. The following is a market and trade data overview.  

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars 

Sources: Unofficial estimate by FAS based on industry and U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division; DR Customs; Trade Data Monitor. The United States continues to be a strong commercial partner for the corn market in DR. During the last five years, the United States has averaged over 40 percent market share with a peak of 66 percent in CY 2018.  Persistent complaints concerning dust levels, presence of mycotoxins, grain cracking, availability, shipping challenges, and relatively higher prices have led many importers to source South American supplies, specifically from Brazil and Argentina.  During CY 2021, the DR imported a total of 1,432,217 MT of corn.  Brazil supplied 47 percent of that total, followed by the United States with 31 percent and Argentina 21 percent. Demand for corn, a prime ingredient for animal feed, increased slightly (3 percent) during CY 2021 due to higher demand for the poultry industry. 

Opportunities 

Product quality, geographic proximity and price, in addition to U.S. industry support and technical assistance will assure U.S. presence in the Dominican market. Coarse grain quality is expected to improve and, as corn is a basic feed item for the poultry, swine, and dairy sectors, it remains exempt from import taxes.  

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo agricultural specialist covering the grain sector is Jennifer Caceres, jennifer.caceres@usda.gov. 

Consumer-Oriented Products Agricultural Products 

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country.The following is a market overview and trade data: 

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars - Source: Trade Data Monitor 

Imported consumer-oriented food products, especially those from the United States, are seen as high-quality products. The demand for these products is high and the U.S. market share for these items is approximately 47 percent. Currently, the major competitor in this group of products is the European Union. The hotel, restaurant and institutional (HRI) sector continues to grow strongly, increasingly serving Dominicans as well as tourists. Leading U.S. products for distribution in hotels and restaurants include premium red meat cuts, poultry parts, cheeses, wine, frozen potatoes and vegetables, fresh fruit, and seafood. However, most all-inclusive resorts are owned by Spanish companies, which leads to heavy sourcing of Spanish and other European food and beverage items. 

The Dominican modern retail sector offers a wide variety of U.S. products, is dominated by locally owned companies, and is growing rapidly. However, despite the prominence and growth of local supermarket chains, they only account for 20-25 percent of retail sales. The majority of sales are still in the traditional channel, which includes neighborhood stores (colmados) and warehouses, which offers largely local products. Also, the rapid increase of modern gas stations is important, since many are becoming a place for purchasing various U.S. imported snacks, beverages and fast food throughout the country. This is especially true in the East, where tourism levels have reached record levels.  

During 2021, with the DR lifting all restrictions related to the Covid-19, an increase in number of tourists, and the increase in local and restaurants consumption the demand for consumer-oriented products increased 34 percent.  

Opportunities 

Demand for consumer-oriented products is expected to increase in the medium-term due to the continued liberalization of the Dominican market under CAFTA-DR; growth in the tourism, hotel, and restaurant institutional (HRI) sectors; and economic growth. 

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo marketing specialist covering the consumer-oriented products sector is Melqui Luperón, melchicedec.luperon@usda.gov  

Dairy Products 

Overview 

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars 

Sources: Unofficial estimate by FAS based on industry and U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division; DR Customs; Trade Data Monitor.  

While the DR’s dairy sector is an important source of local employment, it is not able to supply the full range of dairy products consumed domestically, especially in the growing hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector.  From 2018 to 2021, the DR’s overall imports of dairy products increased approximately by 21 percent to $400 million. During this period, the United States had an average share of total imports of 26 percent, while the EU has dominated the market with a 49 percent share.  However, CAFTA-DR has opened opportunities for U.S. dairy products to enter the DR market.  

The DR’s large and growing tourism industry demands high value food products, including cheese. In addition, there is a growing number of consumers demanding higher quality and healthier products, and they generally perceive that U.S. products meet these requirements.  

During 2021, with the DR lifting all restrictions related to the COVID-19, local demand for dairy products rebounded, hence increasing both local production and U.S. and EU exports to the market. 

Opportunities 

The duties on U.S. dairy products exported to Dominican Republic are being phased out under the CAFTA-DR agreement. Tariffs and quotas for fluid milk, butter, fresh cheese, cottage cheese, curd and soft cheese were eliminated beginning in 2015 and for ice cream in 2016.  Tariffs and quotas for cheddar cheese were eliminated in 2020, and both tariffs and quotas for mozzarella cheese, powdered milk, and yogurt will be eliminated in 2025. 

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo specialist covering the dairy sector is Virgilio Mayol, virgilio.mayol@usda.gov. 

Rice 

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. The following is a market and trade data overview: 

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars  

Sources: Central Bank; ONE Export Database; Unofficial estimate by FAS on industry; U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division; Trade Data Monitor. 

Rice is one of the most important agricultural products in the country.  The country is self-sufficient in rice production, although this self-sufficiency is based on governmental support through programs such as the Pledge Program (Programa de Pignoración) and various measures that limit rice imports, such as the discretionary management of import permits. These measures continue to limit the volume of U.S. rice that could potentially compete in the local market. Under the CAFTA-DR, tariff rates for rice started to decrease during 2016 and will be phased out by 2025. The current import tariff rate for U.S. rice is 35.6 percent. 

Opportunities 

Rice is a basic food item in the Dominican diet.  As CAFTA-DR is in full effect, the tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for rice will assure a small U.S. presence in the Dominican market with an increasing amount every year until the phase-out period ends in 2025. 

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo agricultural specialist covering the grains sector is Jennifer Cáceres, jennifer.caceres@usda.gov. 

Pulses and Dried Beans 

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Following is a market overview and trade data:  

Unit: Millions of U.S. dollars 

Sources: Central Bank; ONE Export Database; Unofficial estimate by FAS on industry; U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division; Trade Data Monitor. 

Pinto beans are a basic staple in the Dominican diet and domestic production alone cannot meet demand.  In recent years, worldwide dried bean imports to the DR have averaged more than 37,000 metric tons per year, reaching an estimated value of $43 million in 2021, due to production shortfalls.  Most dried bean imports into the DR come from U.S. ports located in the Gulf of Mexico, and some are transshipped from the Midwestern United States through Canada.   

The Dominican market prefers North American pinto beans to the South American variety due to quality, phytosanitary standards, geographic proximity, and price.  Continued U.S. presence in this market is assured with CAFTA-DR providing a free trade market and the current domestic production shortfall. 

Resources 

The U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service Santo Domingo agricultural specialist covering the dry beans sector is Jennifer Cáceres, jennifer.caceres@usda.gov.