Santo Domingo, RD. – He Poloche (T-Shirts) and interior t-shirts are the most moved products between the Dominican Republic and Haitihaving a flow of 68.78 % in imports from the neighboring country and 35.73 % from Santo Domingo, belonging to the free zone regime, represented in a transit of 183.99 million dollars so far this year.
This round -trip movement between the two nations occurs due to the need for labor at a lower cost and, on the other hand, the necessary procurement of raw material for the elaboration of these garments made from the free zones.
Although the largest number of binational economic flow is represented in exports in the national regime since the Dominican Republic, in which this year they reached 68.45 % translated to 531.04 million dollars. The textile piece is the one who leads in clothing.
According to data from the General Directorate of Customsduring the period from January to August 2025, the total exports of the Dominican Republic to Haiti amounted to US $ 775.77 millionwhich represents an increase of 32.35% compared to the same period of 2024. However, imports from Haiti decreased by -55.58%, standing at US $ 5.24 million.
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Being ethyl alcohol without denaturalized and rags, such as ropes, strings and raticides, the most marketed from the affected Haiti to the Dominican nation, located with 37.12% in alcohol, 20.16% in textiles and 15.26% in insecticides.
According to information offered by the day by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), at the end of June 2025, the Datacomex reports indicate that 560 million dollars of commercial exchange have been reached, 555 million in exports and 4 million in imports between both nations, which they estimate has an arithmetic projection that exceeds 909 million dollars of the 2024 exchange.
But … What does this mean?
The rise of US $ 775.77 million, represented in an increase of 32.35%in relation to the same period of 2024, is a reflection of the growing binational and the lead in commercial stability of the Dominican Republic against Haiti, manifested in exports of the national regime, which marked an increase of 52.26%, while those of free zones experienced a negative variation of -11.90%.
Undoubtedly, the current situation of violence and social crisis that the Haitian country is going through directly affects its production and development capacity, so binational trade is one of its greatest sources of supply.
In terms of participation, that is, commercial activity, 68.45% of exports correspond to the national regime, 23.72% to free zones, 3.96% to re -export and the remaining 3.88% to the temporary admission regime.
Comercio clarified that companies operating in Haiti under schemes similar to that of free zones, and that they are owned by Dominican businessmen, are not welcomed to the regime established by Law 8-90 on the promotion of free zones in the Dominican Republic.
Which indicates that such legislation has no jurisdiction or application on these operations in Haitian territory.
What are the free zone products that are exported to Haiti?
In the free zone regime, 90.57% of exports are concentrated in 10 main products:
- «T-shirts» and interior t-shirts, point
- The other cotton fabrics
- Rags; Cords, ropes and cordages, textile matter
- Articles for transport or packaging, plastic; caps, tapas.
- Cotton tissues greater than 200 g/m².
- Boxes, bags, sachets, cucuruchos and other paper or cardboard containers.
- Cotton fabrics less than or equal to 200 g/m².
- Tags of all kinds, paper or cardboard, even printed.
- Synthetic or artificial filament sewing thread.
- Tissue of synthetic filament yarn.
What are export and import regimes?
To facilitate trade and regulate the flow of goods, the Dominican Republic has different regimes for both import and export.
Import regimes:
Import for consumption: This regime allows the entry of goods to the customs territory for internal consumption, once the payment or guarantee of the corresponding tariff rights and taxes and taxes are met.
Reimportation in the same state: It facilitates the re -entry of merchandise that were exported definitively, without the requirement of tariff rights or other imports applicable to importation.
Temporary admission for re -export in the same state: It allows the temporary income of goods to the customs territory without the payment of tariffs, as long as they are re -exported within a certain period.
Export regimes:
Definitive export: This regime allows the exit of national or nationalized goods from the customs territory for use abroad, without being subject to customs taxes.
Temporary export for reimportation in the same state: It allows the temporary departure of national goods from the customs territory, with the condition that they are reimported within a specific period. This regime does not apply to prohibited goods or with the country’s exit restrictions
