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Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative Analysis

General Economics And Demographic Landscape

Economy:

  • Following real growth of 12.3% in 2021, Dominican Republic’s economy is predicted to expand at an average annual real rate of 4.9% over 2022-2040.
  • The unemployment rate is expected to fall to 5.8% in 2022 – below the pre-pandemic level and lower than the average of 11.5% in Latin America in 2022.
  • Inflation in Dominican Republic is forecast to slow down to 5.3% in 2022, from 8.2% in 2021.
  • Dominican Republic’s merchandise exports increased by 19.1% and imports rose by 39.1% in 2021, with the country remaining a net importer of goods.
  • Gross Fixed Capital Formation in Dominican Republic rose in real terms over 2021 as a result of economic recovery and fiscal stimulus measures.
  • The public debt-to-GDP ratio in Dominican Republic fell to 63.6% in 2021, compared to the regional average of 69.8%.

 

Population demographics:

  • Relatively swift population growth of 15.6% in the Dominican Republic in 2019-2040 will be driven by natural increase, as net migration inflows remain negative. When the Dominican Republic’s population reaches 12.4 million in 2040 it will remain in the top third of Latin American countries in terms of size.
  • With rapid rural-urban migration in 2019-2040, urbanites will account for a huge 90.5% of the population by the end of the timeframe, becoming an even more important consumer market.

 

Income & expenditure:

  • Per capita gross income in Dominican Republic is forecast to increase by 129% in real terms over 2021-2040 and it is anticipated to increase at a faster pace compared to other Latin American countries.
  • Mid-Lifers are projected to become predominant in the top-income band by 2040, shaping luxury spending patterns in Dominican Republic. 
  • Income inequality is estimated to increase over the long term and remain extremely high by global standards.
  • The Ozama region is anticipated to remain the largest consumer market in Dominican Republic by 2040, accounting for 37.1% of total consumer expenditure.
  • Food and non-alcoholic beverages are forecast to be the largest consumer spending category in 2040, while transport will record the fastest growth over 2021-2040.
  • Over the 2020-2030 period, Dominican Republic is projected to drop by two positions and rank 68th out of 84 countries in Euromonitor International’s Wealth Index.
Data

Data

Organic Packaged Food And Beverage Data

Data type

Unit

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

CAGR
(18-21)

CAGR
(22-25)

Health & wellness products consumption [1]

USD million

691.2

742.1

808.9

846.0

852.4

877.5

907.9

939.1

5.2%

2.5%

Organic packaged food and beverages consumption

USD million

6.8

7.1

7.6

8.0

7.9

7.8

7.8

8.1

4.1%

0.6%

Organic packaged food consumption

USD million

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.0%

0.0%

Organic beverages consumption

USD million

6.7

7.0

7.5

7.9

7.8

7.7

7.7

8.0

4.2%

0.6%

Organic packaged food and beverages consumption as a % of total health & wellness products consumption

%

1.0%

1.0%

1.0%

1.0%

0.9%

0.9%

0.9%

0.9%

-

-

 

[1] Health and Wellness Definition: Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products. The above definition and more can be referenced from the definitions table at the end of the report.

Economic And Demographic Data

Data type

Unit

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Total population

Million

10.6

10.7

10.8

11.0

11.1

11.2

11.3

11.3

% Middle and upper class of total population

%

26.2

25.8

25.5

25.4

25.3

25.2

25.1

25.0

% Population aged 65+

%

7.1

7.3

7.5

7.8

8.0

8.3

8.5

8.8

% Population aged 0-14

%

28.0

27.7

27.4

27.2

26.9

26.6

26.3

26.0

% Population with higher education degrees

%

24.5

24.7

24.9

25.2

25.3

25.5

25.6

25.8

Average number of children per household

children

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

GDP per capita

USD per capita

6,981.6

7,441.3

7,196.1

8,541.9

8,879.5

9,172.4

9,547.1

9,939.2

Consumer expenditure per capita (US$)

USD per capita

5,270.0

5,570.8

5,520.1

6,289.3

6,558.6

6,766.9

7,040.7

7,317.5

Consumer expenditure per capita on food and non-alcoholic beverages (US$)

USD per capita

1,413.5

1,500.8

1,520.7

1,685.3

1,741.4

1,804.1

1,877.6

1,946.0

 

Retailer And City Data

Top 5 Cities By Population

Data category

Rank

City/retailer

Population
(millions)

Top cities by population (2021)

1

Santo Domingo

4.1

Top cities by population (2021)

2

Santiago

0.8

Top cities by population (2021)

3

Higüey

0.3

Top cities by population (2021)

4

La Romana

0.3

Top cities by population (2021)

5

San Francisco de Macorís

0.2

 

Top 5 Grocery Retailers By Sales

Data category

Rank

City/retailer

Top grocery retailers by sales (2021)

1

Ramos Business Group (Grupo Ramos)

Top grocery retailers by sales (2021)

2

Centro Cuesta Nacional

Top grocery retailers by sales (2021)

3

Grupo Lama CxA

Top grocery retailers by sales (2021)

4

Hipermercado Ole SA

Top grocery retailers by sales (2021)

5

Almacenes Iberia CxA

 

United States Department Of Agriculture Global Agricultural Trade System Data

Top 5 Export Commodities To Dominican Republic

Year

Country

Rank of
Product/Commodity

Product/Commodity

Export Value (US$)

2021

Dominican Republic

1

Organic Lettuce Not Head Fr/Ch

3,287,117

2021

Dominican Republic

2

Organic Apples Fresh

2,018,216

2021

Dominican Republic

3

Organic Grapes Fresh

584,153

2021

Dominican Republic

4

Organic Peach/Nectarine Fresh

133,544

2021

Dominican Republic

5

Organic Coffee Roast Not Decaf

124,292

2021

Dominican Republic

Total

Total Organics*

6,584,355

2020

Dominican Republic

1

Organic Lettuce Not Head Fr/Ch

4,573,775

2020

Dominican Republic

2

Organic Apples Fresh

2,960,882

2020

Dominican Republic

3

Organic Grapes Fresh

507,186

2020

Dominican Republic

4

Organic Vinegar and Substitutes

133,070

2020

Dominican Republic

5

Organic Onion Sets Fr/Ch

85,548

2020

Dominican Republic

Total

Total Organics*

8,763,140

2019

Dominican Republic

1

Organic Lettuce Not Head Fr/Ch

4,425,985

2019

Dominican Republic

2

Organic Apples Fresh

1,157,557

2019

Dominican Republic

3

Organic Peas Fr/Ch

175,323

2019

Dominican Republic

4

Organic Vinegar and Substitutes

122,730

2019

Dominican Republic

5

Organic Vegetables Prep/NT FZ

96,172

2019

Dominican Republic

Total

Total Organics*

6,216,305

2018

Dominican Republic

1

Organic Lettuce Not Head Fr/Ch

1,840,771

2018

Dominican Republic

2

Organic Apples Fresh

1,446,806

2018

Dominican Republic

3

Organic Cherry Tomato Fr/Ch

440,192

2018

Dominican Republic

4

Organic Vinegar and Substitutes

160,695

2018

Dominican Republic

5

Organic Milk

152,600

2018

Dominican Republic

Total

Total Organics*

4,594,792

 

Note : Total organics is the sum of all exports in a particular year 

Definitions

Definitions

Term

Definition

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

Organic packaged foods and beverages

This category includes packaged food & beverages that are certified organic by an approved certification body. Organic production is based on:

• A system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.
• Organic food & beverages are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation.
• The use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism) is prohibited. “Certified Organic” means the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations.
• Depending on the country, such products are called ‘organic’, ‘biological’ or ‘ecological’: For organic products to be included under Euromonitor definitions, the organic aspect needs to form part of positioning/marketing of the product. This is an aggregation of organic baby food, bakery, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, oils and fats, ready meals, rice, sauces, dressings and condiments, snack bars, soups, spreads, sweet and savory snacks and other organic food.

Note that fresh food products or individual ingredients are not included in this definition.

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is the average annual growth rate over a specified period of time. For instance, the CAGR consumption of from 2018 – 2021 will be the average growth rates across these three years.

USDA GATS data clarification

The data presented in table 2.4 represents the dollar values of the top 5 organic commodities as well as of the total organic exports of the trade partner for the period 2018-2021 as per the United States Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Trade System, a database consisting of international agricultural, fish, forest and textile products trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.

Policy Information

Policy Information

Government Agency(s) / Competent Authority

Authorized Government Agency(s):

Ministry of Agriculture
Departamento de Agricultura Orgánica (DAO) (Department of Organic Agriculture)
Oficina Nacional de Control de Agricultura Orgánica (OCAO) (National Office for the Control of Organic Agriculture)
National Organic Agriculture Program (PRONAA)
National Organic Farming Council (CONAO)
Dominican Centre for Export Promotion (CEDOPEX)

Agency(s) Contact Information:

Department of Organic Agriculture
Email: agriculture.organica@agricultura.gob.do
Telephone: 809-547-3888 Ext. 3006/3007

Organic Agriculture Control Department
Mr. Miguel Angel Cepede Jimenez
Director
Telephone: 809-547-3888, Ext. 4120
Email: Miguel.cepede@agricultura.gob.do
Web

Organic Regulations and/or Standards

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

Resolution N. 08/2005 – creation of the National Organic Agriculture Program (PRONAA) and Competent Authority
 
Current publications, including the Control System for Organic Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and registration forms for producers, processors, marketers and inspectors, can be downloaded from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Date of Implementation: 2003

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

Regulates the production, processing, packaging, labeling, storage, transport, marketing, export and import of products bearing or intended to bear indications referring to organic farming system

Imported Products

Imported products must have an import permit, description of goods, and organic certification documents. Organic imports need a certificate issued by the control authority from a country whose standards are equivalent. Importers are required to cooperate concerning inspection, and store products in ways that prevent tampering.

Certification and Accreditation

The Department for Organic Agriculture has not yet approved certification bodies
Dependent on foreign certifiers

Dominican Republic Competent Authority assesses, records, and monitors the activities of certification bodies for organic agriculture. The Competent Authority is attached to the National Organic Agriculture Program (PRONAA), but has full operational independence in implementing the control system of Organic Agriculture in the Dominican Republic.

Audit of Processors, Traders and Certifiers

Inspection and audit of Producers requirements

Additional Information

Reference Standards:

Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, plus Panama and the Dominican Republic are benchmarking their standards to a regional organic standard - the Central America Regional Standard. August 2016 these regional standards were put before the World Trade Organization for comment.

Additional Information:

U.S. International Trade Administration

USDA's GAIN Report Exporter Guide (2021)
USDA's GAIN Report Dominican Republic Food Processing Ingredients (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Dominican Republic Retail Foods (2023) 
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report (2022)

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How to use this website

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) brings the US organic industry to developing markets around the world. This database is a comprehensive tool for OTA membership interested in participating in or expanding international trade in organic products by providing information to understand international markets for organic products. Select the country you wish to export to and find out whether it has an agreement with the United States, who its certifiers are, and much more.

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