The average cumulative growth during the first five months of the year stands at 4.2%
SANTO DOMINGO – The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) reported that preliminary figures for the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) for May 2026 reflected a year-on-year increase of 4.7%. With this result, the average accumulated growth for the first five months of the year stands at 4.2%, noting that this growth occurred within a turbulent external context marked by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and an increase in international freight and oil transportation costs.
The performance of the economy during May 2026 was primarily driven by the expansion of real value added in the construction (7.1%), mining (6.4%), and services sectors as a whole (5.3%), with professional services (8.3%), financial services (8.2%), education (7.7%), other market service activities (6.5%), hotels, bars, and restaurants (6.2%), healthcare (6.1%), and transportation and storage (5.1%) standing out among the latter. In addition, local manufacturing grew by 2.9% and agriculture by 2.0%, while the value added of manufacturing in free trade zones registered a variation of -4.1%.
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) explains that the 7.1% year-on-year expansion of the construction sector in May 2026 was driven by the execution of privately funded commercial, residential, and tourism projects, as well as by favorable financing conditions. In this context, by the end of May 2026, credit to the sector had grown by 23.7% year-on-year, equivalent to more than RD$35 billion more than in the same period of the previous year. This performance was also reflected in the increased sales volumes of key construction inputs, highlighting the productive linkages that characterize the sector.
Mining registered year-on-year growth of 6.4% in May 2026, driven by increased gold and silver extraction amid favorable international prices for these metals. Local manufacturing also expanded by 2.9%, largely due to increased production of non-metallic minerals, alcoholic beverages, and chemicals.
The value added of hotel, bar, and restaurant activity showed a year-on-year growth of 6.2% in May 2026, driven largely by the increase in non-resident passenger arrivals by air. During that month, 743,983 tourists were received, representing a 10.4% increase compared to May 2025. Likewise, the cumulative flow of international tourists reached 4,146,831 people in the first five months of the year, equivalent to a 10.8% increase compared to the same period of the previous year. This favorable performance reflects the impact of the promotional strategies implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, aimed at strengthening the country's presence in key source markets and diversifying the origin of international visitors.
Regarding financial intermediation, insurance and related activities, it experienced an annual growth of 8.2%, with this result influenced by the 8.6% expansion of credit directed to the private sector in national and foreign currency, equivalent to an additional RD$203 billion compared to May of 2025.
The Central Bank concludes its report by highlighting that it continues to monitor the performance of the Dominican economy in an international environment characterized by high uncertainty, ensuring that monetary policy contributes to preserving price stability and adequate macroeconomic conditions.
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