Total imports grew by 35% in the first eight months of 2022
![](https://dominicantoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/importaciones-totales-crecieron-un-35-en-los-primeros-ocho-meses-del-2022.webp)
Santo Domingo, DR.
Total imports between January and August of this year amounted to US$20,692.48 million, which reflects an increase of 35.38% in relation to the same period of 2021.
Separating non-oil imports, the growth is 23.60%, going from US$12,997.06 million in January-August 2021 to US$16,064.39 million in 2022.
According to the Trade Magazine published by the Directorate General of Customs (DGA), 81.85% of imports were imported under the consumer dispatch regime, 17.79% through free trade zones, and the remaining 0.36% through other regimes.
Of the total imports, 44.83% corresponds to consumer goods, 41.63% to raw materials, and 13.54% to capital goods. Consumer goods grew by 28.69%, while raw materials and capital goods grew by 47.51% and 25.31%, respectively.
The top 10 countries accounted for 77.22% of total imports to the Dominican Republic, 55.26% of which originated in two markets: the United States (40.86%) and China (14.40%).
Of these, 93.89% were imported by sea, 6.09% by air, and the remaining 0.02% by land. The 91.99% is concentrated in five administrations: Haina (44.95%), Caucedo (31.15%), Santo Domingo (8.14%), Las Americas International Airport (AILA) (5.80%), and Puerto Plata (1.95%).
Can it be imagined these numbers are a reflection of pent up demand for goods stalled from entry into the RD because of the pandemic? It could be the imports will level off over the next year close to the pre pandemic numbers, allowing for inflation.
This is not a good news for the country. I would it been more happy if these numbers were of exports and not imports. Dumb and dumber.