Maize market in Cuba

Earlier Report Observations

The maize market volume in Cuba declined sharply from over 1.1 million tons in 2018 to 168 thousand tons in 2023. This contraction was primarily driven by persistently low crop yields due to chronic difficulties in acquiring technological inputs on time and problems in industrial processing. The ongoing U.S. economic blockade and international financial restrictions further constrained access to essential agricultural inputs. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 exacerbated these challenges by increasing global prices for both inputs and maize, raising production costs and reducing import affordability.

In response, the government approved 63 measures in 2021 aimed at boosting agricultural output through revised tariffs, prices, and tax reductions for the sector. This period also saw the exponential approval of new private and cooperative economic actors, including thousands of MSMEs. The implementation of the Law of Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Security in 2022 sought to strengthen domestic production. However, these initiatives were offset by enduring structural problems, limited access to wholesale markets and financing, and the high cost of imported inputs paid in foreign currency, which continued to suppress national output and imports.

The market collapse in 2023, where volume fell to 168 thousand tons, coincided with a drastic drop in imports to just 18.1 thousand tons. This occurred despite the approval of over 6,700 new economic actors and updated regulations for agricultural cooperatives via Decree-Law 76/2023. The sharp import reduction reflected persistent obstacles, including severely limited access to basic inputs and foreign exchange, compounded by the continuing economic crisis and blockade. New rules for commercializing agricultural goods based on yields and quality were introduced but could not swiftly reverse the supply shortage.

Production maize in Cuba

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Cuba's maize production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 257.2 thousand tonnes of maize, marking a significant 16.2% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 31.2%, with an average annual decline of 11.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Cuba in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports maize from Cuba

Market analysis indicates that Cuba did not export any maize from 2017 to 2020.

Imports maize to Cuba

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Cuba imported 779.7 thousand tonnes of maize, a sharp 10.7% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports dropped by 19.6%, with an average annual decline of 7.0%. The largest decrease occurred in 2018 at 16.3%, while the biggest increase was in 2019 at 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cuba in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Argentina was the leading source for Cuba's maize imports in volume, accounting for 70.4% of total imports, with other countries making up the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cuba in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Cuba imported maize worth 171.6 million US dollars, a 13.8% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value fell by 16.2%, with an average annual decline of 5.7%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 2.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cuba in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Argentina was the main source for Cuba's maize imports in value terms, representing 71.0% of total import value, while other markets contributed smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cuba in value, 2017-2020