The Cuban food-buying agency Alimport purchased $232 million of U.S. food and ag products during 2016, up 36 percent from the previous year, said the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. The sales total surged with the return of Cuban purchases of U.S. poultry meat, interrupted by the U.S. bird flu epidemic of 2014-15, said the council, which tracks trade between the nations.
Frozen chicken meat accounted for 45 percent, or $105 million, of U.S. sales to Cuba, according to data compiled by the council, based in New York City. Corn ranked second, at 17 percent of sales and $38.7 million. Food and ag sales are exempt from the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba under a 2000 law but Havana is required to pay cash on delivery. U.S. farm groups see Cuba as a natural market for American products and have pressed for improvements in trade relations.
Sales have fluctuated widely, from a low of $138.6 million in 2002 to a high of $710 million in 2008. The 2015 tally of $170.6 million was the second-lowest total for a year of sales. During 2015, Cuba purchased frozen poultry meat from Brazil in part because of restrictions on purchases of U.S. meat. The council says sales also are affected by Cuba’s access to foreign exchange, preferential terms offered by other suppliers and efforts by Cuba to encourage change in U.S. policy.