Santo Domingo.- Record growth has been seen in the Dominican Republic’s cocoa exports. Between January and August 2024, the total value reached $359.1 million. This is a 92.9% increase compared to last year. This data was provided by the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana) during the Northwest Chocolate Festival in Seattle, Washington.
Cocoa and derivative exports from the Dominican Republic amounted to $1.2 billion from January 2020 to August 2024. This indicates an 18.6% annual growth. The major exports were cocoa beans, butter, fats, oils, chocolate, and cocoa powder. The United States imported the most Dominican cocoa products amounting to $116 million, followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Indonesia, Spain, and Mexico.
Dominican companies such as Heritage Chocolate, Kah Kow, Definite Chocolate, Milz Chocolate, Oko Caribe, and Inaru showcased their premium cocoa products at the Northwest Chocolate Festival. Their innovation was highlighted by ProDominicana, especially the recognition of Heritage Chocolate’s 71% cocoa chocolate in the “Best in Show” competition. These companies are enhancing the reputation of the Dominican Republic as a leader in fine cocoa production and driving economic growth.