First Larimar Sales Fair highlights 15,000 pounds of raw stone available in Dominican Republic
Barahona.- The Dominican Republic held its first Larimar Direct Sales Fair, offering 15,000 pounds of raw larimar and connecting local mining producers directly with artisans, jewelry makers, designers and buyers.
Organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the event brought together 12 larimar producers and showcased the Dominican semi-precious stone at different stages of production, from raw material to cabochons, veneers, jewelry and handicrafts.
Of the 15,000 pounds of raw larimar offered, 255.16 pounds were sold, representing just 1.7% of the total supply presented at the fair. Buyers also purchased 7,057.9 grams of semi-processed larimar and 39,761 grams of finished products, jewelry and handicrafts.
The results provide a snapshot of the available supply of raw larimar while highlighting demand for products with greater levels of processing and added value.
Government seeks to strengthen Dominican larimar industry
Mining Promotion Director Golye Latouff said the fair demonstrates that larimar exports have not eliminated access to raw material for Dominican artisans.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines aims to ensure that growth in larimar mining also strengthens local jewelry, handicraft production and other businesses, allowing more of the stone’s economic value to remain in Dominican communities.
Larimar deposit could be four times larger
The Dominican Republic may also have significantly greater larimar reserves than previously estimated.
Rolando Muñoz, director general of Mining, said preliminary studies indicate that the area containing larimar deposits in the mountains of the Bahoruco municipal district could be up to four times larger than currently known.
Authorities are conducting drilling to quantify the resource and determine the deposit’s potential more precisely. The results could shape the future of an industry that supports miners, artisans, lapidaries, designers and merchants across the Enriquillo region.
The government is considering holding additional direct-sales fairs in other regions to improve market access and strengthen the country’s larimar value chain.
Larimar receives international designation of origin
Larimar, a semi-precious stone found exclusively in Barahona, received international protection in July 2025 through the registration of the Designation of Origin “Larimar Barahona” by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The designation strengthens the international recognition and protection of one of the Dominican Republic’s most distinctive natural resources.
