How exporting from the Dominican Republic works, step by step
Whether you send a few pallets of cigars or regular containers of produce, every export goes through the same stages.
- Quote: share the product, pickup location, destination, weight, volume and ready date. Rates depend on the shipment, so start with a free quote.
- Booking: we reserve space on a sailing or flight and confirm the cut-off dates for cargo and documents.
- Pickup: we truck the cargo from your farm, factory or free zone to the port or airport, or you deliver it yourself.
- Export documents: you provide the commercial invoice and packing list, plus certificates the product or buyer requires.
- Export clearance: the export declaration is filed with the DGA and the cargo may be inspected before loading.
- Main transport: the cargo leaves on the booked vessel or flight with a bill of lading or air waybill.
- Arrival: at destination, the importer or their broker clears the cargo and arranges delivery.
Common Dominican exports we ship
The DR exports a wide range of products, each with its own handling needs.
- Cigars: packed to protect humidity and shape, often by air or LCL for smaller lots.
- Cocoa and coffee: bagged beans in dry containers, with phytosanitary and origin documents.
- Bananas, avocados and other produce: refrigerated (reefer) containers with set temperatures and fast handling.
- Rum and other beverages: palletized and secured, with the documents the destination market requires.
- Medical devices: often made in free zones, usually high-value and time-sensitive, frequently shipped by air.
- Textiles and apparel: cartons on pallets, by ocean LCL/FCL or air depending on the deadline.
- Manufactured goods, free-zone cargo and personal effects.
Shipping modes for exports from the DR
Ocean freight: FCL and LCL
FCL gives you a full 20′, 40′ or reefer container for regular or large volumes. LCL consolidates your cargo with other exporters, which suits smaller lots and new markets. Read how consolidated shipping from the DR works.
Air cargo
Air freight from SDQ, STI or PUJ is used for samples, medical devices, cigars and urgent orders. It is billed by actual or dimensional weight, whichever is greater; see our dimensional weight and packing tips.
Vehicles and personal effects
Vehicles can leave by RORO or container, and household goods can travel as LCL or a full container when you relocate abroad.
Ports and airports for exporting
Shipping from the port closest to your cargo can lower inland trucking costs. Our article on the best port to ship from the Dominican Republic compares the options.
- Caucedo, east of Santo Domingo: a major container terminal with many international services.
- Río Haina, west of Santo Domingo: containers, general cargo and vehicles, close to the south and west.
- Puerto Plata: on the north coast, convenient for exporters in Santiago and the Cibao.
- Las Américas (SDQ), Cibao (STI) and Punta Cana (PUJ) airports for air cargo.
Export documents
The buyer’s country decides some of the paperwork, so confirm requirements with your buyer early. Our customs and documents guide lists the essentials.
- Commercial invoice and packing list.
- Bill of lading (ocean) or air waybill (air).
- DGA export declaration.
- Certificate of origin, when the buyer wants to use a trade agreement such as DR-CAFTA or the EU agreement.
- Phytosanitary certificate for fresh produce, cocoa, coffee and other plant products.
- Other permits or health certificates required by the product or destination.
DGA export clearance basics
Exports are declared to the Dirección General de Aduanas before loading. Customs checks the declaration against the invoice and packing list and may inspect the cargo. Free-zone companies follow their own procedures. Filing on time and with accurate data keeps your cargo on the booked vessel or flight.
What cannot be exported
Prohibited and restricted items include weapons and ammunition without authorization, illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, protected species and cultural heritage items. Hazardous materials need special packing and carrier approval. The destination country may also restrict products, so check before shipping.
Approximate transit times
Transit times are approximate and depend on the carrier, route and schedule. As a rough guide, ocean freight to the US East Coast usually takes days to a couple of weeks, while Europe and Asia take several weeks. Air cargo usually arrives within a few days. Add time for pickup, export clearance and destination clearance.
Tips to avoid delays and extra fees
Most extra charges come from late documents, missed cut-offs and re-handling. Our article on how to avoid extra fees exporting from the DR covers this in detail, and how to lower shipping costs from the DR has more ways to save.
- Book ahead, especially in peak harvest seasons.
- Have certificates ready before the cargo reaches the port.
- Pack and palletize to use space well and protect the product.
- Give accurate weights and dimensions; use our freight calculators.
Packing and labeling export cargo
Good packing protects your product and keeps billing fair. Ocean and air carriers charge on weight or volume, whichever is greater, so boxes that are much larger than the goods inside cost more to move. Our guide to dimensional weight and packing tips explains how that works.
Wooden pallets and crates used in international shipping generally must be heat-treated and stamped under the ISPM 15 standard, and many destination countries inspect for it. Mark every package with the shipper, consignee, piece count and any handling instructions, and make sure those details match the commercial invoice and packing list exactly.
- Perishables such as produce, cocoa or coffee need packaging that allows airflow or controls moisture, and refrigerated cargo needs the right temperature setting from the start.
- Cigars, rum and other high-value goods ship best in sturdy, sealed cartons stacked on pallets, with nothing on the outside that advertises the contents.
- Medical devices and textiles often have destination labeling rules, so confirm the requirements with your buyer before you pack.
Export pickup anywhere in the DR
We collect export cargo across the country, including Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís and Puerto Plata. Importing too? See import to the Dominican Republic.