Dominican Republic growing economy and growing ports

From first impressions, those arriving to attend the Caribbean Shipping Association’s 49th AGM in Punta Cana won’t need to be told that the Dominican Republic is one of the region’s powerhouse economies. It’s apparent for all to see and an example of what can be achieved with broadly the right economic policies and with an emphasis on tourism, services and telecommunications.

Not only is the economy performing well, with growth at around 6 to 7 per cent in the last year or so, but also, unsurprisingly, the nation’s ports have also been enjoying success in terms of domestic cargo and the box transhipment market.

The handling of containers is, of course, dominated by DP World’s Caucedo and to a lesser extent the port of Rio Haina. At 1.33 million TEUs, Caucedo was placed 13th in 2018 among container ports located in Latin America and Caribbean and handles over 55 per cent of the Dominican Republic’s total box traffic while Rio Haina accounts for around 40 per cent.

While Caucedo seems to grab the headlines, working hard is Haina International Terminals (HIT), which operates and has developed the port of Rio Haina, 16 km from Santo Domingo.

As the nation's main multipurpose port, Rio Haina has 15 berths astride the Haina River. The port handled 423,000 TEUs in 2018 and expects to hit around 438,000 TEUs this year. HIT also handled an impressive 5.7 million tonnes of breakbulk cargoes and 32,000 vehicles last year and confidently expects to top both figures in 2019. HIT has invested over US$ 120 million in the past 10 years upgrading the port and two new Panamax cranes were due to be delivered in early October from China’s Dalian Heavy Industries (DHI).

But the Dominican Republic is more than these two main container ports. In fact, the state-owned Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana (Apordom) administers a total of 16 ports and harbours, including both Caucedo and Haina, around a 1,288 km coastline. At least three of these ports – Amber Cove, Puerto Arroyo Baril (Samaná) and La Romana – are largely dedicated to cruise traffic while La Cana and Punta Catalina do not as yet function as ports.

Other ports

• San Pedro de Macoris: Handles dry bulk imports of clinker, coal and fertilizers; export of sugar and molasses and bagged cement.
• Puerto de Azua: LPG terminal port used by gas carriers, tugs and barges
• Barahona: Export of dry bulk cargoes such as plaster, salt and cement, sugar and import of coal
• Boca Chica: Containers, general cargo, liquids, forest products
• Cabo Rojo: Bauxite, limestone, cement
• Manzanillo: Imports: clinker, coal; exports: reefer containers
• Puerto Plata: Container, general cargo and cruise ships
• Santo Domingo (Sansouci Terminal, Don Diego Terminal and Santo Domingo Terminal): Cruiseships, vehicles, general cargo, containers, ferries (to Mayaguez)
• Las Calderas: The location of the Ciramar shipyard

Logistics hub

Earlier this year, DP World’s group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem met with President Danilo Medina. The pair discussed how to develop a Caribbean logistics hub in the country. The two men agreed that innovation, technology and digitalization will play a big role in realizing this ambition. DP World says it is looking forward to working more closely with the Dominican Republic, helping the nation to build truly regional trade links for the future.