Dominican Republic Mining Exports Soar to Record $2.59 Billion in 2025

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic's mining sector achieved a historic milestone in 2025, with exports soaring to a record $2.59 billion, marking the highest value ever recorded for the industry.

This export figure represents a significant 52% increase compared to 2024, when mining exports totaled $1.71 billion. The 2025 performance also surpassed the $2.16 billion recorded in 2021 by 20%, according to data released by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.

Joel Santos, the Minister of Energy and Mines, highlighted that the final quarter of 2025 was particularly strong, contributing $825.9 million to the annual total. This quarterly performance was up 67% over the same period in 2024.

Mining remains a cornerstone of the nation's export economy, accounting for more than 40% of the Dominican Republic's total export value. Gold continues to be the sector's primary commodity, solidifying its strategic importance to the national economy.

Santos noted that the figures for the last quarter of 2025 also reflected a nearly 14% rise from the July-September period of that year, which saw exports exceed $720 million. This growth was primarily fueled by robust exports of gold and silver.

The minister attributed these impressive results to a strategic focus on strengthening investments and institutional robustness, emphasizing that advancements in the mining sector directly bolster the broader national economy.

Foreign Investment Boosts Sector

Beyond export figures, Minister Santos underscored the Dominican mining sector's growing appeal as a destination for foreign capital in 2025. Official data from the Central Bank indicates that mining attracted over $556.3 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between January and September, representing approximately 14% of the country's total FDI during that period.

"This leadership is a testament to the sustained performance of commodities like gold, silver, and copper, which constitute a significant portion of export value and contribute decisively to foreign exchange generation, employment, and investment," Santos stated.

Collectively, the energy and mining sectors garnered about 40% of all FDI attracted by the Dominican Republic in 2025, establishing themselves as key drivers for foreign capital within the national economy.

Sustainable Growth and Diversification Efforts

Santos also pointed to the expansion of artisanal mining, specifically for larimar, a unique blue pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic. In 2025, larimar achieved international recognition with the "Larimar Barahona" Designation of Origin, officially registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Lisbon Agreement, enhancing its protection.

Significant progress was also made in 2025 regarding the exploration of rare earth elements in Pedernales province. Additionally, the review and discussion of the existing Mining Law 146-71 advanced, with plans to modernize the legal framework and submit a new initiative to the National Congress in the first quarter of 2026.

Social initiatives also saw progress, including the formalization of a resettlement agreement for the expansion of mining operations in Cotuí, Sánchez Ramírez province. This agreement involves an investment exceeding 20 billion Dominican pesos aimed at community development.