Dominican Republic Sees Record Exports, Job Growth Through November 2025

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic's economy demonstrated robust growth through November 2025, driven by record exports, an expanding formal job market, and unprecedented foreign direct investment, according to a report from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM).

The ministry highlighted the country's sustained economic performance, solidifying its position as a productive and reliable economy in the region.

Dominican exports totaled $13.06 billion from January to November 2025, marking a 10% increase year-over-year. November alone recorded $1.12 billion in exports, the strongest performance for that month in 13 years.

"The year 2025 has been one of significant productive activity," said Víctor "Ito" Bisonó, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs. "These results confirm that the Dominican Republic maintains an open, competitive economy capable of generating real opportunities for its people."

Dynamic and Diversified Exports

Free trade zones were the primary driver of export growth, accounting for 61% of total exports. The national regime contributed 37%. Key export products included raw gold, electrical circuit breakers, cigars, medical blood pressure instruments, and cotton t-shirts.

Sustained Growth in National Industry

The domestic industry showed strong performance in both local and international markets. Accumulated internal sales between January and October climbed 10.9% year-over-year, rising from RD 951.07 billion to RD 1.05 trillion.

Industrial goods exports also saw increased dynamism, reaching $1.86 billion from January to November, a 19.8% increase compared to the previous year. Iron and steel, cement, and plastics were among the leading categories, showcasing the Dominican industry's capacity to strengthen its international presence.

Historic Year for Free Trade Zones and Employment

A significant milestone for the year was the free trade zone sector surpassing 200,000 jobs, reaching an all-time high of 200,134 workers. Authorities approved 82 new companies and 10 industrial parks in 2025, representing a projected investment of $344.2 million.

"The dynamism of the free trade zones reflects investor confidence and their direct impact on creating formal jobs, which are becoming increasingly diversified and offer higher added value," Bisonó stated.

Expanding Formal Employment

Across the Dominican economy, 119,965 new jobs were created in 2025. Nearly half of these, 56,873 jobs (47.4%), were concentrated in sectors directly influenced by the MICM, such as commerce, industry, and services.

Record Foreign Investment and International Recognition

Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $4.05 billion by September 2025, the highest level recorded in three decades. Projections indicate FDI could exceed $4.8 billion by the close of the year.

In terms of regulatory control and legality, the country reported five consecutive years without deaths from adulterated alcohol. Authorities also seized 93.1 million units of illicit goods. These efforts contributed to the Dominican Republic's ranking of 50th out of 158 countries in the 2025 Tracit Index, identifying it as one of the economies least vulnerable to illicit trade.

Institutional Strengthening

Internally, the MICM concluded 2025 by achieving Great Place to Work certification and maintaining its five ISO standards, solidifying its position as a regional benchmark for efficient public management and institutional quality.

"This year's balance demonstrates that when stability, clear rules, and collaborative work are combined, results follow," Minister Bisonó concluded. "That is the foundation upon which we continue to build."