Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, reported that mining activity consolidated as the fastest-growing sector of the Dominican economy, recording a year-on-year expansion of 18.1% in June, according to the Monthly Economic Activity Indicator (IMAE), published by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.
Santos explained that mining activity has accumulated a growth of 11.3% during the first half of the year, positioning itself as the most dynamic sector of the Dominican economy in that period. He indicated that this performance was associated with the higher level of activity in the extraction of metallic and non-metallic minerals.
Likewise, the minister highlighted the performance of larimar, the national stone of the Dominican Republic, whose production reached 188,696 pounds during the first semester of 2026, a result that, he stated, reflects the strengthening of extractive activity and the boost to the value chain of this resource, through actions aimed at improving production and commercialization conditions.
The official pointed out that these results occurred in a context in which the Dominican economy recorded a year-on-year growth of 6.4% in June and a cumulative 4.5% between January and June 2026, according to IMAE data.
The minister highlighted that mining continues to be one of the country’s main export sectors and an important generator of foreign currency, contributing to the strengthening of productive activity and the performance of the national economy.
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Likewise, he highlighted that investor confidence continues to be reflected in the performance of foreign direct investment (FDI) destined for the sector, which reached USD 420.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, remaining among the activities that attract a greater proportion of foreign capital.
In the energy sector, Santos pointed out that the sector showed a growth of 3.5% during the January-June 2026 period, in line with the sustained increase in electricity demand.
He attributed this behavior to the strengthening of the national electrical system, driven by the incorporation of new generation and transmission infrastructure, which has allowed for a more reliable response to the growth in energy consumption.
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The minister stated that the joint performance of the mining and energy sectors evidences their importance for the country’s economic growth, by boosting investment, strengthening energy security, and contributing to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic.
