The Dominican Republic: a logistics hub for tropical fruit

The Dominican Republic is becoming an increasingly important logistical hub for tropical fruit production destined for Europe. In the last few days, a delegation from the organisers of the Macfrut exhibition (Rimini, 6-8 May 2025) visited the country to meet with fruit and vegetable operators.

Renzo Piraccini, president of Macfrut explains, "The port of Santo Domingo offers direct access to Rotterdam, which is just a two-week navigation away. The cost is also competitive: a 40-foot container currently costs several thousand Euros. This therefore represents a strategic position for the marketing of tropical fruit destined for the European market. Both Dominican and European operators are aware of this, and there is a need to establish stronger synergies between them."

Further opportunities for collaboration will be available at Macfrut, where a delegation of approximately one hundred operators from the Dominican Republic will be in attendance.

The delegation that undertook the visit to Central America comprised President Piraccini, Lina Valeza Martez, responsible for the Central American area of Macfrut, Rosalba Lanciotti of the University of Bologna, Francesco Cavazza, a researcher at the CER Canale Emiliano Romagnolo, and representatives from several companies operating in the fruit and vegetable sector in that country.

"We held institutional meetings at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Banco Agricola, the public sector financial institution offering subsidised funding to the industry," says Piraccini. The mission also included visits to the island's most important production areas. Mao is the capital of banana production, with a particular focus on organic varieties. San José de Ocoa is the centre of avocado production, while Baní is the main hub for mango production and other types of fruit.

A large number of tropical fruit producers and exporters attended the Macfrut 2025 presentations, as well as the technical and commercial discussions provided to the delegation members.

For more information:
Macfrut
Via Dismano 3845
47522 Cesena (FC) - Italy
Tel.: +39 0547 317435
[email protected]
www.macfrut.com