BCRD reports that remittance flows reached US$3,019.6 million between January and March 2026

Santo Domingo. The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) reports that, between January and March 2026, the remittances received reached the figure of US$3,019.6 million, increasing 1.9% year-on-year. Particularly in the month of March, US$1,149.2 million were received, an amount higher by US$38.9 million (3.5%) than that received in March 2025 and considerably higher than that received in February of this year by US$261.6 million (29.5%). This growth in March occurs despite the complex international environment currently prevailing. The conflicts in the Middle East have raised the prices of oil and its derivatives, which has generated greater inflationary pressures and reduced the disposable income of households. The rebound responds, to a large extent, to the remittances made by Dominicans in the United States, the country from which 84.2% of the formal flows received in March originated, equivalent to about US$879.9 million. It is relevant to consider that, during this period, the diaspora in the United States receives a significant proportion of the tax refunds stipulated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), thus increasing its sending capacity. In addition, overall unemployment in the United States stood at 4.3% in March, a decrease from the 4.4% recorded in February 2026, after 178,000 jobs were added during the month. In the case of the Latino population, the unemployment rate registered 4.8%, an improvement compared to the 5.2% of February 2026. Likewise, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) non-manufacturing of the Institute for Management and Supply (ISM) registered a value of 54.0 in March, continuing the path of expansion of the services sector. This sector concentrates a significant proportion of the employment of the Dominican diaspora.

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Source: Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

The BCRD also highlights the receipt of remittances through formal channels from other countries in the month of March, such as Spain, for a value of US$54.9 million, 5.3% of the total, this being the second country in terms of the total number of Dominican diaspora residents abroad, as well as Haiti and Italy, with 1.1% and Switzerland with 1.0% of the received flows. In the rest of the receipt of remittances, countries such as Haiti, Canada and Panama, among others, are distinguished.

 Source: BCRD

Regarding the distribution of remittances received by provinces, the BCRD indicates that the National District received a proportion of 48.3% during March, followed by the provinces of Santiago and Santo Domingo, with 10.6% and 7.0%, respectively. This indicates that almost two-thirds (65.9%) of remittances are received in the metropolitan areas of the country.

     Source: BCRD

The 1.9% growth in the flow of remittances received between January and March is consistent with the projections of this Central Bank, which maintain an annual growth of 3.5% for 2026, lower than that observed in 2025, considering the entry into force last January of the new tax on shipments from the US, and the uncertainty of the current international environment. Analyzing the evolution of the external sector, the BCRD's perspectives contemplate a favorable evolution of foreign exchange income during 2026, such as tourism income, foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports, together with remittances. Regarding remittances, it is estimated that they will be around US$12,200 million and that FDI will exceed US$5,000 million by the end of the year.

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These foreign exchange earnings will contribute to maintaining the relative stability of the exchange rate currently observed, such that, as of March 31, 2026, the national currency appreciated 3.4% against the US dollar compared to December 2025. These increased external flows also allow maintaining an adequate level of international reserves, which at the end of March were at US$16,143.1 million, representing 12.2% of GDP and covering about 5.8 months of imports, indicators above the thresholds recommended by the IMF.

The Central Bank reaffirms its commitment to monitoring the current economic environment to continue taking the necessary measures to counteract the impact on the Dominican economy of the challenging international landscape, in order to guarantee price and exchange rate stability. The Central Bank reaffirms its commitment to monitoring the current economic environment to continue taking the necessary measures to counteract the impact on the economy of the Dominican Republic from the challenging international landscape, in order to guarantee price and exchange rate stability.