Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** Despite a slight 2% dip in imports, the Dominican Republic’s free trade zone sector boosted exports to US$8.55 billion in 2025, achieving a trade surplus of US$3.8 billion, per the CNZFE’s latest report.
Companies operating under the free trade zone regime in the Dominican Republic imported goods worth US$4,753.5 million during 2025, a 2% decrease compared to the US$4,852.8 million recorded in 2024. Despite the decline in external purchases, the sector increased its export value to US$8,548.6 million, resulting in a trade surplus of US$3,795.1 million, according to the 2025 Statistical Report of the National Council of Export Free Trade Zones (CNZFE). This indicates that the sector imported raw materials and other goods equivalent to 55.6% of its export value during 2025.
The import trend was accompanied by moderate export growth of 0.6% during the year. As a result, for every dollar imported by free trade zone companies, approximately US$1.80 was exported, maintaining the regime’s capacity to generate foreign currency through the transformation and re-export of manufactured goods. Historical evolution shows that imports have followed a growth trajectory over the past two decades, with interruptions only during periods of global economic slowdown. After the decline recorded in 2020 due to the pandemic’s effects, the imported value resumed an upward trend, reaching a peak of US$4,852.8 million in 2024. In 2025, a slight correction of US$99.3 million occurred, equivalent to a 2% decrease, although the amount remained among the highest levels observed by the sector since 2006.
The combined behavior of exports and imports also strengthened the trade balance of free trade zones. While in 2024 the surplus was US$3,647.5 million, in 2025 it increased to US$3,795.1 million, driven by the reduction in imports and the increase in exports. This positive difference confirms the regime’s weight in the foreign currency generation of the Dominican economy.
Regarding the origin of external purchases, the United States remained the main supplier of inputs for free trade zone companies. It was followed by China, Italy, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Ecuador; markets from which a significant portion of raw materials, components, and intermediate goods used by industries under this regime came. The distribution highlights the integration of Dominican companies into global supply chains, especially in export-oriented manufacturing sectors. The report also shows that hundreds of companies conducted import operations from various international markets during 2025, reflecting a broad diversification of suppliers. However, the United States continued to be the main country of origin both by the number of importing companies and by the value of goods purchased.
By economic activity, the largest imports corresponded to the medical and pharmaceutical products subsector, totaling US$1,163 million in 2025, an increase from US$1,001.8 million in 2024. This behavior is consistent with the leadership that industry maintains in the regime’s exports and reflects the high demand for specialized inputs for the manufacture of medical devices and products. The second largest import volume corresponded to tobacco and its derivatives, with US$734.5 million, followed by electrical and electronic products, with US$622.2 million. Also notable were jewelry, with US$518.3 million, and apparel and textiles, with US$498.3 million. Variations by activity show mixed behaviors. In addition to the increase recorded by medical and pharmaceutical products, tobacco imports rose compared to the previous year, while jewelry, electrical and electronic products, apparel and textiles, as well as other economic activities, recorded reductions compared to 2024. The case of jewelry stood out for presenting the largest absolute decrease among the main subsectors.
Although imports decreased during 2025, the regime’s trade result was more favorable due to export growth. With a surplus close to US$3,800 million, free trade zones maintained their status as one of the main foreign currency generators in the Dominican Republic and preserved a broadly positive trade balance, supported by the transformation of imported inputs into manufactured goods.
According to the 2025 Statistical Report of the National Council of Export Free Trade Zones, the United States concentrated 62.7% of the import value by free trade zone companies in 2025, consolidating itself as the regime’s main supplier. It was followed by the People’s Republic of China, with 10%; Italy, with 4.6%; Puerto Rico, with 4.4%; Mexico, with 1.9%; Ecuador, with 1.8%; Honduras, with 1.5%; Germany, with 1.2%; and Spain, India, Brazil, and Nicaragua, each with a 0.7% share of the total imported.
