In January 2025, total exports to Haiti reached $96.77 million, representing a 54.65% increase compared to the same month last year, which recorded $62.57 million, according to the Directorate General of Customs (DGA). The reasons for this increase could be linked, among other things, to the "difficulties" Haiti faces in importing goods directly from other countries due to the armed conflicts within its territory.

Domestic exports (products manufactured in the Dominican Republic using local inputs and labor) increased by 79.41%, reaching $66.40 million, according to the DGA's monthly bilateral trade report. In contrast, exports from free zones, products manufactured in industrial parks benefiting from tax incentives, saw a slight decrease of 2.80%, with a value of $23.81 million.

58.27% of Dominican exports to Haiti were concentrated in just 10 products. Within this group, at least three saw significant increases in January compared to the same month last year: sales of hydraulic cement reached US$7.79 million, an impressive increase of 999.32%; sales of iron or steel bars totaled US$5.65 million (an increase of 354.83%), and soybean oil totaled US$5.21 million (an increase of 354.68%). The list of exported products also includes: wheat flour (US$4.97 million), bakery and biscuit products (US$3.55 million), sauce preparations (US$2.69 million), plastic packaging products (US$2.53 million), pasta (US$2.43 million), dried vegetables (US$2.09 million), and sugary drinks (US$1.79 million).

Similarly, 91.88% of the free zone's exports were also concentrated in 10 products, mainly : T-shirts and knitted T-shirts (US$9.97 million), cotton fabrics (US$6.59 million), and synthetic yarn fabrics (US$1.11 million), according to the DGA.

S/ HaitiLibre