Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Aggregate 2024 paddy production estimated at near-average level
- Reintroduction of import tariffs encourages plantings of 2025 minor paddy crop season
- Cereal import requirements forecast about 10 percent above average in 2024/25 marketing year
- Retail prices of rice and black beans lower year-onyear in January 2025
Aggregate 2024 paddy production estimated at average level
Harvesting of the minor paddy crop of 2024 finalized at the end of January 2025. Rising year-on-year rice prices at planting times encouraged farmers’ sowing intentions and planted area exceeded the previous five-year average. Torrential rains in November 2024 saturated soils and generated floodings in central and northern key producing provinces. According to official sources, crop losses were limited and the production of the minor paddy crop is estimated to remain above average, as harvesting operations were already at an advanced stage when precipitations hit the country.
Aggregate 2024 paddy production is estimated at an average level as the increase in plantings was offset by low yields due to unfavourable weather conditions. Dryness in the first quarter of 2024 hampered regular main season crop development, curbing crop yields, while heavy rainfall at the beginning of May generated severe crop losses.
Maize production in 2024 is estimated at an above-average level of 88 000 tonnes, due to an increase in planted area, reflecting growing demand of yellow maize for feed use by the expanding domestic poultry sector. Large plantings more than offset crop losses generated by floodings in November 2024.
Reintroduction of import tariffs encourages plantings of 2025 minor paddy crop season
Planting operations of the 2025 main season paddy crop, accounting for more than half of the total annual production, started in December and are about to be concluded in March. Plantings are reported to be about 30 percent above the average as retail prices at planting time were about 25 percent higher than one year before. Although dry weather conditions in January 2025 negatively affected soil moisture levels in the main cropping regions, weather forecasts point to above-average rainfall until next April, likely providing conducive conditions for crop’s early development stages. As a result, production of the 2025 main paddy season is forecast at an above-average level.
Cereal import requirements forecast about 10 percent above-average in 2024/25 marketing year
Cereal import requirements for the 2024/25 marketing year (July/June) are forecast at 2.3 million tonnes, about 10 percent above the previous five-year average. The high level of import requirements is due to strong domestic demand for wheat for food and maize for feed. By contrast, rice imports are forecast well below the average in 2025, as a result of the introduction of import quotas with new tariff rates in accordance with Decree 693-24, issued in December 2024. Ahead of the full opening of the market to United States of America’s exports in January 2025, in compliance with the Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the government introduced tariffs and quotas to protect the domestic rice sector.
Retail prices of rice and black beans lower year-on-year in January 2025
Retail prices of yellow maize declined last February, due to improved market availabilities from the ongoing minor season harvest and were lower year-on-year in line with the ample supply from large import volumes in 2024. After remaining stable from February to August 2024, prices of black beans declined for the last five months consecutive, reflecting the ample supply from 2024 harvest, combined with the 20 percent year-on-year increase in import volumes, primarily from the United States of America, the main exporting partner. After increasing in December 2024 and January 2025, retail prices of rice started declining in February, reflecting improved supplies from the main season harvest. In January, rice prices were about 12 percent above their previous year’s level, reflecting the limited supply from the low 2023 outturn.