The Dominican economy expanded by 6.4% year-over-year in June 2026, marking its strongest monthly performance of the year, according to preliminary data from the Monthly Economic Activity Indicator (IMAE) published by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.
With this result, economic activity averaged 5.0% growth during the April–June quarter, while cumulative growth for the first half of 2026 reached 4.5%, more than double the rate recorded during the same period in 2025.
The Bank also noted that its trend-cycle indicator confirmed that the economy continues the recovery that began in late 2025, registering 5.5% year-over-year growth in June.
Economic Growth Despite a Challenging Global Environment
The Central Bank highlighted that this performance was achieved despite a complex international backdrop characterized by geopolitical tensions, rising oil prices, and higher transportation costs, all of which have increased production costs worldwide.
Even under these conditions, the Dominican economy demonstrated strong resilience, supported by the robust performance of several productive sectors.
Construction and Mining Drive Economic Expansion
The construction sector was the primary contributor to economic growth in June, expanding by 14.9% and accounting for nearly 30% of total IMAE growth.
This performance was driven by stronger private investment, increased public infrastructure spending, and improved financial conditions that facilitated access to credit. Financing for the construction sector increased by 22.6% year-over-year, representing an additional DOP 34 billion compared with June 2025.
Higher sales of key construction materials also reflected increased project execution and generated positive spillover effects across other industries.
Meanwhile, the mining sector posted the highest growth rate among all economic activities, expanding by 18.1%, supported by increased gold and silver production amid favorable international metal prices.
Free Zones and Manufacturing Continue to Perform Well
Free zone manufacturing expanded by 5.8%, supported by a 6.1% increase in exports under the free zone regime during June.
At the same time, domestic manufacturing grew by 2.5%, driven by higher production of non-metallic minerals, metal products, and other manufactured goods.
The agricultural sector also recorded positive performance, growing by 1.6%.
Service Industries Strengthen Overall Growth
The services sector expanded by 5.2%, led by:
- Financial services: 13.1%
- Education: 8.9%
- Professional services: 8.7%
- Transportation and storage: 5.7%
- Other market services: 5.6%
- Healthcare: 4.9%
- Hotels, bars, and restaurants: 4.6%
The hotels, bars, and restaurants sector benefited from continued tourism growth.
During June, the Dominican Republic welcomed 816,512 international visitors, representing a 6.0% increase compared with June 2025. Total visitor arrivals during the first half of 2026 reached 4,963,343, up 10.0% year-over-year.
The Central Bank attributed these results to the Ministry of Tourism’s promotional initiatives, aimed at strengthening the country’s presence in key international markets and diversifying its visitor base.
Credit Expansion Supports Financial Sector Growth
The financial intermediation, insurance, and related services sector grew by 13.1%, fueled by a 9.1% expansion in private sector credit, both in local and foreign currency.
As of June, financing to the private sector had increased by DOP 217 billion compared with the same period in 2025, while financial institutions also reported higher commission income.
Central Bank Highlights Strong Economic Fundamentals
The Central Bank reaffirmed that the Dominican Republic continues to benefit from solid macroeconomic fundamentals, supported by a stable financial system, a resilient private sector, and effective coordination between monetary and fiscal policy.
The institution stated that it will continue to closely monitor developments in the global economy and their potential impact on the country, while maintaining its commitment to price stability and overall macroeconomic stability.
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