DP World Signs $760M Deal to Expand Dominican Caucedo Port, Free Trade Zone

DP World has signed a US$760 million Memorandum of Understanding with the Dominican Republic government to significantly expand the Port of Caucedo and its Free Trade Zone, aiming to transform the country into a major manufacturing and logistics hub in Latin America. The investment will be equally divided, with US$380 million allocated to expanding the port's container handling capacity from 2.5 million to approximately 3.1 million TEUs, including upgrades such as quay and breakwater expansions, new ship-to-shore cranes, and advanced security systems. The remaining US$380 million will develop 225 hectares of additional industrial land in the Free Trade Zone, enhancing nearshoring opportunities and creating a logistics-industrial ecosystem directly connected to the port. This expansion aligns with DP World's strategic focus on strengthening its presence in key transshipment and nearshoring hubs amid shifting global trade dynamics. The project is expected to bolster supply chain resilience across the Americas, foster economic growth, and generate job opportunities in the Dominican Republic. Local officials and DP World executives emphasize the investment as a vote of confidence in the country's strategic position and its potential as a hemispheric trade axis.