Wood in the rough market in Dominican Republic

Earlier Report Observations

The Dominican Republic's wood in the rough market volume grew from 716 thousand tons in 2018 to 726 thousand tons in 2019, a period characterized by active importers and local manufacturers like Terra expanding their supply of wood from Dominican forests to meet domestic demand. However, the market contracted to 686 thousand tons in 2020. This decline was linked to a sharp fall in imports, a critical vulnerability given that local production covered less than 20% of national consumption, making the market highly dependent on foreign supply.

Market volume recovered sharply to 766 thousand tons in 2021 and edged up to 771 thousand tons in 2022, supported by rising imports and increased local production. During this recovery, investigative reports highlighted that Peruvian companies sanctioned for illegal logging continued to ship wood to the Dominican Republic through new entities, underscoring persistent challenges in the regional supply chain. After the 2022 peak, the market volume decreased to 743 thousand tons in 2023.

Throughout the period, the market was shaped by strong underlying demand from sectors like construction, met by companies such as Terra and Madesol which expanded their operations. Government policy also played a role, with initiatives for reforestation and the establishment of sustainable wood production units, complemented by the implementation of national technical regulations like Regulation R-029 for structural timber construction, which set standards for quality and safety in the industry.

Production wood in the rough in Dominican Republic

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

After two consecutive years of growth, the Dominican Republic's production of wood in the rough declined. In 2020, the country produced 668.7 thousand tons, representing a 4.5% decrease compared to the previous year. Production had peaked in 2019 at 700.5 thousand tons, which also marked the largest annual increase of 3.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Dominican Republic in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports wood in the rough from Dominican Republic

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Export volumes reached their highest point in 2018 at 2,015 tons, then fell to their lowest in 2020 at 18 tons, representing a dramatic 111-fold difference. In 2020, exports dropped by 98.5% compared to 2019. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 51.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Dominican Republic in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Haiti dominated the Dominican Republic's exports of wood in the rough in volume terms, accounting for 83.6% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among various smaller destinations.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Dominican Republic in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The Dominican Republic's exports of wood in the rough in value terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 14 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp 95.7% decrease year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 96.5%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 67.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Dominican Republic in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the largest buyers of wood in the rough from the Dominican Republic in value terms were Haiti (62.8% of exports), Turks and Caicos Islands (11.0%), and the United States (9.5%). Together, these three destinations accounted for 83.3% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Dominican Republic in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood in the rough to Dominican Republic

Imports in kind, t

The Dominican Republic's imports of wood in the rough in volume terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volume reached 17,019 tons, reflecting a significant 37.4% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 61.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -27.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Dominican Republic in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States strongly dominated the Dominican Republic's imports of wood in the rough in volume terms, holding a 79.3% share of total flows. Other trading partners accounted for relatively minor shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Dominican Republic in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the Dominican Republic's imports of wood in the rough in value terms totaled 6,074 thousand US dollars, down by 63.9% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 65.2%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -29.7%. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019 at 29.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Dominican Republic in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (56.4% of imports in value terms), Brazil (16.0%), and Gabon (7.4%) led the structure of the Dominican Republic's imports of wood in the rough. Together, these three countries represented 79.8% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Dominican Republic in value, 2017-2020