• The Dominican Republic’s Organic market remains small, ranking 19th in Latin America and 117th globally, with a market value of US$4.9 million in 2023. The country is also among the lowest in per capita consumption, ranking as the seventh smallest in Latin America. Looking ahead, the market is expected to grow at a constant CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period, outperforming the Latin American average.

• Organic products in the Dominican Republic represent just 0.2% of the market in the Latin American region, recording per capita expenditure of US$0.3 in 2023

• The Organic Packaged Food and Beverages market in the Dominican Republic registered value growth of 8.9% in 2023 at current USD prices to record a market size of US$4.9 million. 
• Organic Packaged Food registered a historic CAGR of 10.3% at current USD prices from 2019 to 2023, led by a CAGR of 12.3% in Organic Dairy Products and Alternatives.
• Organic Packaged Beverages registered a historic CAGR of 15.8% at current USD prices, with Organic Soft Drinks driving growth with a CAGR of 21.7%.

• Organic and natural products still represent a small segment in the country, with limited categories seeing growth for these claims, as the majority of Dominicans are more focused on flavor for their favorite meals than to reduce calorie intake or eat better foods. Breakfast cereals, juices, and chocolate confectionery are some of the categories where organic and natural claims are growing the most.
• According to the Global Nutrition Report’s latest data, the Dominican Republic has shown limited progress toward achieving the diet-related non-communicable disease (NCD) targets, with 38.1% of adult women and 25.0% of adult men living with obesity, higher than the regional averages of 30.7% for women and 22.8% for men.

• Within Organic Dairy Products and Alternatives, categories such as Organic Dairy or Organic Milk will experience strong market growth. Over the forecast period from 2023 to 2028, Organic Dairy is expected to reach US$2.0 million in 2028, following a constant CAGR of 6.8%. Organic Milk is expected to reach a market size of US$1.1 million in 2028, following a constant CAGR of 7.4%.
• Another category expecting high growth is Organic Coffee, with a solid 7.7% constant CAGR from 2023 to 2028, reaching US$0.5 million in 2028.

• Demand for reduced sugar and sugar-free products is still limited, especially in soft drinks. Dominicans prefer the sweet taste of sugary drinks over the potential health hazards that these products may cause, with few consumers being able to adapt to the taste of sugar-free drinks, which generally contain artificial sweeteners, and have a different taste.
• The Dominican Republic could possibly create new regulations to incentivize healthier eating habits. Proposed front-of-pack nutritional warning labeling for packaged foods that would highlight high levels of sugar, fat, and salt is one of the main initiatives. Other significant developments include a bill that will prohibit the sale of carbonated drinks in school cafeterias and a sugar tax similar to other countries.

Economy: 

• The Dominican Republic’s economy is experiencing a period of impressive growth, with real GDP growth increasing from 2.4% in 2023 to 5.0% in 2024. This growth is mainly due to strong consumption and investment and a focus on attracting foreign direct investment, as well as key sectors such as tourism, free-trade zones, and remittances forming the backbone of the nation’s economy.
• Growth is expected to continue, with the country expected to be the second fastest-growing economy in the Americas in 2026 according to the International Monetary Fund. From 2025 to 2028, real GDP growth is expected to average 4.6%.
• Inflation closed 2024 at 3.3% and is expected to accelerate slightly to 4.2% in 2025.

 Population demographics: 

• The Dominican Republic's population reached 11.4 million in 2024 and is projected to grow by 0.8% to 11.5 million in 2025. The percentage of the population aged 0-14 years reached 26.6% in 2024, a value expected to decline by 1.5 p.p. over the forecast period.
• The median age in the Dominican Republic was recorded at 29.0 years in 2024, an increase of 1.3 years from 2020. 

Income and expenditure: 

• The savings ratio in the Dominican Republic stood at 13.5% of disposable income in 2024, significantly above the average in Latin America, reflecting a strong and dynamic banking system in the country, as well as new legislation to improve Anti-Money Laundering measures in the country, which contribute to a trusted and resilient financial environment.
• Consumer expenditure per capita increased by 8.4% in 2024 in current USD terms. In constant USD, it is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.5% through 2028.

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

² Economic and Demographic Data has been updated to reflect final 2024 estimates, therefore using 2024 as the base year for exchange rates and prices. 

³ Historic current prices and forecast constant 2024 prices.

Top 5 Cities By Population

Top 5 Grocery Retailers By Sales

Top 5 Export Commodities To Dominican Republic

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

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

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

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 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.

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.

Reference Standards:

Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, plus Panama and the Dominican Republic have benchmarked their standards to a regional organic standard - the Central America Regional Standard. The standard is now implemented as regulations in these countries.

Additional Information:

U.S. International Trade Administration

USDA's GAIN Report Exporter Guide (2024)
USDA's GAIN Report Dominican Republic Food Processing Ingredients (2024)
USDA's GAIN Report Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional (2024)
USDA's GAIN Report Dominican Republic Retail Foods (2024) 
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2024)
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report (2024)