SANTO DOMINGO.- Imports plunged 33% in the first half this year while tax revenue climbed 10.9% in July, according to figures provided by officials yesterday, after a meeting headed by president Leonel Fernandez with the Government’s tax collection team in the offices of the Internal Taxes Agency (DGII).

Customs director Rafael Camilo said the fall in that agency’s revenues stems from the more than 40% fewer vehicles and home appliances imported, articles he said are the ones which pay the most taxes. He said just the vehicle sector contributes 24% of Customs’ total revenues.

He said the fall in imports will lead Customs to collect RD$10 billion less than this year’s estimate of RD$59 billion. He said this forced it to re-estimate projections for the second half, and positive results began to surface in July.

The official said Customs projected RD$3.9 billion in July revenue, but collected RD$4.05 billion, or RD$150 million more.

In taxes, July was also encouraging for the Government, according to figures from DGII director Juan Hernandez, who reported a 10.9% windfall in July (but didn’t specify the absolute amount) compared with the same year ago period, with a jump on the taxes on checks, which posted an increase for the first time.

Hernandez said that movement means the economy is rebounding, whereas Camilo said he expects "another life" in the economy by year end, when Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank loans reactivate government spending.