During the first half of 2024, Cuba made purchases from the United States worth 210.6 million dollars, representing an increase of 31.4% compared to the first six months of 2023. These figures were recently published by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council (CubaTrade).
One of the most notable products in these transactions was the import of vehicles, in which the Island invested more than 31 million dollars. These vehicles include electric models intended for passenger transport, with a value of 37,000 dollars, and used cars purchased mostly by individuals, totaling nearly 26 million dollars.
In the area of household appliances, televisions were imported for more than 200,000 dollars, as well as air conditioners for a value of 166,960 dollars and refrigerators for 122,794 dollars. Portable lamps were also purchased for 39,600 dollars.
Chicken and other foods
In terms of food, chicken remains the main imported product, with a total expenditure of approximately 150 million dollars during the semester. Of this amount, 45.6 million were allocated to the purchase of hindquarters.
While 21.8 million were for thighs, 16.6 million for offal and 939,414 dollars for whole chickens.
The food sector also included imports of cane and beet sugar worth $834,480, reflecting the deterioration of the Cuban sugar industry in recent years.
Other notable products imported from the U.S. in this semester include coffee for $4,688,000, chicken wings for $73,800, eggs for $4,101,913. Also soybeans for $2,853,680, cheese for $334,000, rice for $743,000, yogurt for $593,000, butter for $178,400 and personal hygiene products for $618,000.
Since the U.S. Treasury Department authorized the sale of certain products to Cuba under special payment conditions – cash and in advance – in December 2001, the total value of exports has reached $7,456,961,818.
