Coffee producers say up to 70% of coffee consumed in Dominican Republic is imported

Santo Domingo.- The National Network of Coffee Producers and Entrepreneurs (Reproca) says 60% to 70% of the coffee consumed in the Dominican Republic is imported, despite improvements in the quality of locally grown coffee and record international prices.

According to the organization, coffee imports totaled US$54.6 million in 2023, benefiting producers in countries such as Brazil, Vietnam, Honduras and El Salvador. Reproca spokesperson Enrique Chalas said the Dominican Republic exports premium-quality coffee while relying on lower-quality imports to meet domestic demand.

Coffee producers noted that the price of a quintal of coffee has risen from RD$5,500 in 2021 to RD$23,000 in 2025, but argued that local growers have not benefited because national production has stagnated and market opportunities remain underutilized.

The sector also criticized the budget allocation for the Dominican Coffee Institute (Indocafé), claiming that much of its annual RD$350 million budget has been spent on payroll rather than technical assistance and infrastructure for coffee farmers, contributing to rural migration and labor shortages.

To reverse the trend, producers urged the government to declare coffee production a “National Goal,” arguing that with the right public policies the country could supply up to 90% of domestic coffee demand while boosting rural development and strengthening environmental conservation through agroforestry.