In an atmosphere full of aromas and flavors, the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana) held for the third consecutive year the event “Night of Tobacco and Rum”, where the executive director, Biviana Riveiro Disla, stressed that “for the period 2020-2023, the accumulated exports of the tobacco and rum sector reached the figure of US 5,072.4 million, for a growth of 35.5% over the similar period prepandemia 2016-2019”.
“These statistics represent the excellent promotional management we have deployed for Dominican products at the international level, participating in more than 200 international fairs and events in more than 50 markets,” Riveiro pointed out, in that space dedicated to two of the Dominican Republic’s greatest cultural treasures.
Riveiro assured that these figures demonstrate the result of the execution of the National Plan for the Promotion of Exports (PNFE) 2020-2030, launched by President Luis Abinader. Whose implementation is coordinated by ProDominicana, has around 75% of the measures contained in this plan have been impacted between the period November 2020- March 2024.
DR Tobacco Excellence
During the activity, the excellence and tradition behind the production of tobacco and tobacco substitutes in the Dominican Republic was highlighted, whose exports reached US 1,214.1 million in 2023 and accumulated US 417.7 million in the period January-April 2024, equivalent to an inter-annual growth of 9.7% in the first four months of the year. Likewise, the main destinations of Dominican tobacco and tobacco substitutes exports in 2023 were the United States with 79.57 %, Germany 4.80 %, Belgium 1.79 %, Puerto Rico 1.63 %, and Honduras 1.25 %. In turn, Santiago is positioned as the main exporting province of tobacco and tobacco substitutes, contributing 74.41% of total exports, followed by La Romana with 12.19% and San Pedro de Macoris with 3.34%.
Rum exports reached US $129.7 million by 2023 and in the January-April period accumulated figures of US $36.9 million. The main destinations for Dominican rum exports in 2023 were: Spain with 41.83%, the United States with 16.07%, Latvia with 9.77%, the Netherlands with 4.38%, Chile with 2.74%, and Germany with 2.66%, among others.
Main national rum exporting district
The National District is positioned as the main rum exporting province, accounting for 61.98% of total exports, followed by San Pedro de Macorís with 28.43%, Santo Domingo with 3.31%, the United States with 3.10% and Santiago with 2.86%.
The activity, held in conjunction with La Aurora, served as the perfect setting for visitors to enjoy multiple experiences in both areas of the Dominican export offer.
The event was also attended by prominent producers and industry experts, who shared their knowledge and experience on the process of cultivation, production and tasting of tobacco and rum. They also received support from Cigars La Aurora, Ron E. León Jiménez, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Café Kora, Bandex and Fersan.
Source: Presidencia.gob.do
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