Focusing on rum and cigars, Dominicans aim to boost exports to Brazil

The Dominican Republic imported more than US$1.1 billion in products from Brazil in 2024, but its exports to the Brazilian market totaled only US$34 million.

This year, the Caribbean country expects to increase sales by 47% and reach US$50 million in volume. One focus is to promote traditional Dominican products with higher added value, such as rum and cigars.

“There is no way to completely reverse this structural imbalance, but we are working to reduce the difference [in the trade balance between the two countries],” said Dominican ambassador to Brasília, Robert Takata, who took office in May, to CNN.

Takata is also optimistic about the greater attraction of Brazilian tourists to the Dominican Republic. There were 130,000 visitors last year, and now, in 2025, the expectation is to increase to 200,000 Brazilians.

Trade between Brazil and the Dominican Republic is still small and concentrated in a few products. What initiatives are the Dominican government and the embassy in Brasília planning to increase trade exchange?

Robert Takata – Bilateral trade remains very limited and concentrated in a few products. In 2024, total trade was US$1.139 billion. Our exports to Brazil were only US$34 million, while we imported more than US$1.1 billion in Brazilian products. There is no way to completely reverse this structural imbalance, but we are working to reduce the difference.

In 2025, we focused on strengthening relationships with associations, industry federations, chambers, and businesspeople across various regions of Brazil, building solid, sustainable ties. At the same time, we promote high-value Dominican products, such as rum and cigars, in strategic cities. Our goal is to increase exports to around US$50 million this year, a 47% increase over 2024.

For 2026, we plan to reactivate the Joint Working Council on Trade, Investment, and Productive Chains [with Brazil] and organize a business and investment forum to deepen cooperation, identify opportunities, and move toward a more dynamic and diversified trade relationship. We are aware that the goal is to better seize opportunities, not to fully balance the trade balance.

Mercosur recently signed important free trade agreements with Singapore, the European Union, and EFTA. Is the Dominican Republic interested in negotiating a treaty with the South American bloc?

Takata – The Dominican Republic observes with interest the evolution of Mercosur and its recent agreements, maintaining a prudent approach, motivated by the opportunity to explore mechanisms that facilitate trade in goods and services. Our country bets on smart economic diplomacy, based on openness, diversification, and a vision for the future.

Although there are currently no formal negotiations underway with Mercosur, we consider that strategic integration with regional blocs can open new opportunities for our economy, enabling greater growth and diversification for productive sectors and Dominican exporters. At the same time, we prioritize trade that does not negatively affect our productive sectors or limit their development opportunities, and we promote mechanisms that strengthen complementarity between markets.

Source: CNN

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