The Dominican Republic It has one Food production Able to supply, by up to 88 %, the expected levels of consumption by the population. This dynamism in the market still does not translate, however, in a reduction in Imports.
Only in 2024, the agricultural production It was 328.1 million quintals, for a increase of 17.9 % in relation to 2023, -278.1 million quintals-, which represented a self -sufficiency 90 % based on a consumption Dear of 366.3 million quintals, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
In that same year, the country imported 5,096,941 metric tons of food -around 50.9 million quintals-, for a rise of 16.7 % compared to 2023 -when the equivalent of 43.6 million quintals and 36.3 % more than the 37.3 million quintals imported six years ago, which shows the increase sustained more than a five years.
If the Cost of acquiring Those products, the FOB value of the Imports reached 5,356.6 million dollars last year, a increase of 5.68 % compared to 2023 and 77.6 % more than in 2018, when food valued at 3,016.2 million dollars will be imported.
Already for him First quarter of 2025 They had intended 1,378.9 million dollars for the purchase of 1,217,475 metric tons of agricultural products- equivalent to 12.1 million quintals-, while the production It was 68.9 million quintals, agriculture underlines.
The reasons
If the country produces more and more food for the domestic market, Why is it still imported?
The need to buy items whose production is too low or almost non -existentthe advantage of acquiring cheaper products compared to the cost of producing them locally and the existence of commercial treaties foster it, observed the president of the National Confederation of Agricultural Producers (Confenagro), Wilfredo Cabrera.
These reasons go further of other factors that also motivate it, how to complete the domestic demand of products such as garlic or beans – whose participation on local consumption last year was 34 % and 39 % respectively – or ensure the reserves of highly consumed products, such as rice.
“Really, although the country can be self -sufficient, we do not produce as many raw materials as wheat or corn, and they are required Imports. And there are other non -basic products, but that are demanded by consumer preferences“He said.
The most demanded
This happens with cerealsa group of food that headed the most imported list during 2024, with 678.5 million dollars -Repre 12.6 % of the total.
Last year, the production of rice was more than 14 million quintals, covering 106 % the consumptionprojected at 13.2 million quintals.
However, the production Corn – which is also the main input for the poultry sector – only covered 6 %. A was estimated consumption of 35.5 million quintals last year, but the production He barely reached 2 million quintals.
This caused that during that period, the country would buy corn for a value of 303.5 million dollars To countries like Brazil, the United States and Argentina, according to customs data.
The same goes for the meat and edible spoilsS, the second most imported tariff chapter last year, with 577.2 million dollars, of which 274.7 million dollars were allocated to the purchase of pork to the United States and Brazil.
The production of pig was 1.4 million quintals, which barely reached to cover 46 % of the consumptionestimated at 3,124,194 quintals, due to a production that has not recovered from the decline generated by the African swine plague.
The purchase of tobacco and their substitutes for the industry (502.8 million dollars); Drinks, alcoholic fluids and vinegar (494.7 million); Milk, dairy products and groceries of animal origin (406.5 million) and fatty fats and oils (379.9 million dollars) were other most imported food groups during 2024.
