Dominican Customs Projects Record Revenue for 2025 Amid Efficiency Push

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Customs (DGA) projects its revenue will surpass 266.1 billion Dominican pesos by the close of 2025, marking an increase of more than 11.3 billion pesos over 2024 earnings.

The DGA also announced an additional transfer of 4.1 billion pesos to the government, made possible by administrative savings generated through efficient management. These funds are intended to support government initiatives benefiting the Dominican populace.

Director General of Customs Yayo Sanz Lovatón highlighted a "major transformation" within the institution. He stated that the DGA is now collecting more revenue with fewer employees and at a lower operational cost, aligning with President Luis Abinader's vision for optimizing public resources.

The agency's workforce has decreased significantly, from 6,614 employees in 2019 to 4,875 currently. This reduction contributed to lowering the payroll-to-revenue ratio from 2.13% in 2020 to 1.03% in 2025.

In a push for improved quality and accessibility, the DGA has automated 87 services, allowing them to be managed online without the need for physical visits. This automation is expected to generate substantial savings for taxpayers. The institution also holds six certifications for management, transparency, and digital transformation.

Between August 2020 and November 2025, the DGA collected more than 1.2 trillion Dominican pesos (equivalent to 1,201,354 million pesos). Additionally, the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE) expanded its services from 150 in 2020 to 298 in 2025, streamlining trade procedures. The 24-Hour Dispatch program has saved importers over 2 billion pesos in storage and other related costs.

Despite a global slowdown in trade and a decline in imports, the DGA anticipates closing 2025 with an annual revenue growth exceeding 4.4%. This performance surpasses the broader economic growth of the Dominican Republic, which the Central Bank reported at 2% accumulated through October.