Dominican Republic’s international reserves drop by US$592.8 million in September

Santo Domingo.- The international reserves of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) fell by US$592.8 million between August and September 2025, declining from US$13,887.6 million to US$13,294.8 million, a 4.3% decrease, according to official data. This drop occurred amid a global environment marked by dollar appreciation and rising external account pressures.

As a result, reserve coverage fell from 5.1 months to 4.9 months of imports, though this remains within the IMF’s recommended range. Analysts suggest that the decline could be linked to public debt payments, higher imports, foreign exchange interventions, or reduced inflows from exports and tourism. Despite the fall, reserves remain above the adequate level equivalent to three months of imports, but experts caution that continued decreases could pressure the exchange rate stability.

Meanwhile, remittances continued to show strong performance. Between January and September 2025, the country received US$8,912.8 million, up US$914.1 million (11.4%) from the same period in 2024. In September alone, remittances totaled US$991.8 million, an 11.9% increase year-over-year. The United States remained the primary source, contributing 80.5% (US$729 million) of the total. The BCRD highlighted that these funds play a crucial role in boosting consumption, investment, and social support, especially for vulnerable sectors.