Despite the economic, institutional and security crisis affecting Haiti, the population continues to demand subsistence goods and other products for their daily lives and production, at a sustained pace since the beginning of the year. Dominican statistics from the Directorate General of Customs (DGA) indicate that the value of Dominican exports to Haiti increased by 29.5% between January and May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

The DGA report indicates that during the first five months of 2025, Haiti purchased products from the Dominican Republic worth US$453.8 million, a significant increase from the US$350.4 million recorded for the same period in 2024.

Despite restrictions imposed by Haitian authorities on local products, particularly regarding labeling, transport routes, and restrictions on vehicles entering the country, local exports to Haiti experienced a steady increase throughout the year.

Comendador, in the province of Elías Piña, has become the most important border trading point for local sales to the neighboring country, surpassing Jimaní, in the province of Independencia, which previously held this title due to its proximity to the Haitian capital.

According to official data, since the beginning of the year, 40.4% of exports to Haiti have transited through Elías Piña. The Dajabón border crossing, located on the northern border, ranks second with 33.2% of the export value, mainly consisting of raw materials destined for the CODEVI industrial park in the Ounaminthe free trade zone.

The Jimaní border crossing recorded the third largest increase in sales volume, accounting for 13.6% of trade between January and May. The ports and airports of Santo Domingo and its surrounding areas, including Haïna, Caucedo, Joaquín Balaguer, and Las Américas, accounted for 4.4% of trade with Haiti.

The decline of Jimaní as a primary transit point for local goods to Haiti can be partly explained by gang control of the highway leading to Port-au-Prince. These gangs also exert influence over the Malpasse customs office.

Given the proximity of the Elías Piña road to the Haitian capital, many traders have chosen this transit point for their goods. If demand for local products in Haiti continues, exports this year could well exceed US$1 billion again, as they did in 2022.

In addition to formal trade, which reached US$453.8 million in the first five months of the year, informal trade could surpass this amount.

In 2024, Dominican exports to Haiti increased by only 2.6% compared to 2023. The value of exports in 2024 was US$896.1 million, just US$23 million more than the US$873.1 million sold in 2023.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-44755-icihaiti-dom-republic-dominican-exports-to-increase-by-452-in-the-first-quarter-of-2025.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44467-haiti-economy-dominican-exports-to-haiti-on-the-rise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44058-haiti-economy-dr-exported-nearly-$900-million-usd-to-haiti-2024.html

SL/ HaitiLibre