As discussed in a prior post, U.S. exports to Cuba increased in 2023. [1] Here are more details on those exports.[2]
Last year, “U.S. companies, many based in Miami and Hialeah, exported food and agricultural products worth $342.6 million. That’s a 12.4% increase from 2021, when private enterprises, known in Cuba as pymes, were first authorized, and exports to Cuba reached $304.7 million.”
According to the New York-based U.S. Cuba Trade and Economic Council, this data “is remarkable not only by the U.S. dollar value, but the substantial increase in the number of companies, primarily located in South Florida, who are exporting products from the United States to Cuba specifically in support of the re-emerging private sector in Cuba. This data legitimizes these are real businesses, that there is commercial activity, and it is expanding.”
Other than agricultural products, medicines and donations, which are authorized under specific licenses and policies implemented by the Obama and Biden administrations, there were exports of approximately $24 million, including car sales of more than $5 million, in addition to trucks, vans and motorcycles.
These exports happened even though the Cuban government was not able to meet the U.S. requirement for cash payments for most of these exports. As a result, Cuba’s “small and private enterprises, which were first authorized in August 2021, filled the gap and started importing supplies for their businesses as well as food and goods to sell on the island.” The products include chicken, condensed milk, coffee, “olive oil, butter, eggs, yogurt, vegetables, pasta, orange juice and other staples found in grocery stores, to construction materials, household articles, clothing, appliances, electrical parts and even cars.”
In addition, U.S. travelers to the island, mostly Cuban Americans, take food, medicines and other goods to Cuban relatives and friends.
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[1] U.S. Increasing Exports to Cuba, dwkcommentaries.com (Jan. 12.2024).
[2] Torres, U.S. exports to Cuba are up, driven by private businesses on the island and Miami firms, Miami Herald (Feb. 13, 2024); Reyes, Almost ten million dollars in US cars for Cuba in 2023, Diario de Cuba (Feb. 14, 2024),