SANTIAGO, RD The Tobacco Institute of the Dominican Republic (INTABACO) reported that exports of tobacco and its derivatives increased by 1,183 million pesos in 2025 compared to the previous year, going from 1,340 million dollars in 2024 to 1,359 million dollars in 2025, which represents an increase of 1.4%.
This information was released by the director of INTABACO, Iván Hernández Guzmán, after the signing of an agreement with the Technological University of Santiago (UTESA) signed by its president and chancellor Frank Rodríguez González.
Both institutions agreed to work together to train students in the agricultural area on tobacco planting and curing techniques; as well as cigar making. These practices will be carried out on the University property in Estancia del Yaque, Santiago province.
Frank Rodríguez González, president of UTESA, expressed satisfaction with this agreement that will benefit thousands of students of agricultural careers and will contribute to the training of qualified labor for the tobacco industry that is constantly growing, since it is the third most exported product in the country after gold and medical supplies.
While Iván Hernández Guzmán, director of INTABACO, reported that said industry generated more than 122 thousand direct and indirect jobs, 38,000 of which in free zones, being the leader in job creation in said sector.
Hernández Guzmán highlighted that 11 Dominican tobacco products and their derivatives are exported to 142 countries by 287 companies located in eight provinces of the country. He indicated that the Government supports the sector with financing, training and construction of infrastructure such as the free zones of San Juan.
Main export markets
The official explained that the main export markets for Dominican tobacco are the United States, generating 7,124 million dollars, followed by India, which produces U$1,611 million, Haiti with U$1,202 million, Canada with U$757 million, Puerto Rico U$706 million, Netherlands U$479 million, China U$309, Belgium U$233.9, Germany U$147.16, Colombia U$143.6, Jamaica with 114.5 and Cuba with 113.7, according to data from the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (PRODOMINICANA).
Iván Hernández Guzmán said that Spain also buys U$106 million of said product, followed by the United Kingdom with U$105 mm, Switzerland U$85 mm, Italy U$84 mm, Japan U$80, Guyana U$59, Brazil 57, Turks and Caicos Islands $55.9, France 55.05, Trinidad and Tobago 53, France, Trinidad and Tobago U$53.4, Costa Rica U$50.9, Nicaragua U$50, Costa Rica U$50, Nicaragua U$50, Mexico 48 and Virgin Islands U$47 million dollars.
Other important markets for tobacco exports are Panama producing U$47.2 million dollars, South Korea U$42, Taiwan.7, Peru U$24, Bahamas U$22, Barbados U$21, San Martin U$20, Curacao U$20, Ecuador U$19.8, El Salvador U$18.2, United Arab Emirates U$17.8, Hong Kong U$17.4 and Chile 17 million dollars.
Also Antigua and Barbados U$15.2, Aruba U$14, Surinan U$11.3, Sirland U$11, Malaysia U$10.8, Vietnam U$10.5, Thailand U$9.3, Saudi Arabia U$14.2, Turkey U$9, Grenada U$7.5, Philippines U$6.4, Slovakia U$5.9, Czech Republic U$5.5, Bangladesh U$5.3, New Zealand, Portugal, Qatar, Latvia, among others.
The Dominican Republic is the world leader in exporting premium cigars in the world.
