Rice market in Cuba

Earlier Report Observations

Cuban rice production peaked at 460.9 thousand tons in 2018 but began a steep multi-year decline due to growing shortages of fertilizers, fuel, and agricultural inputs. The situation worsened in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic and tightening U.S. embargo further disrupted the supply of essential resources, leading to a drop in yields and output.

The 2022 Food Security Law and official plans to produce 180 thousand tons of rice aimed to stabilize the market, but persistent scarcities prevented recovery. By 2023, domestic production had fallen to 58.8 thousand tons, imports covered about 80% of consumption, and the total market volume shrank to 393.8 thousand tons.

In 2024, production was reported to cover only about 11% of consumption, requiring full importation for the state ration system. Authorities responded with maximum retail price caps, stricter distribution controls, and a three-year pilot agreement with Vietnamese company Agri VMA to introduce foreign technology on 308 hectares, marking the first international cooperation project in Cuban rice cultivation.

Production rice in Cuba

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Rice production in Cuba has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, Cuba produced 266.6 thousand tons of rice, which represents a 32.0% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 34.1%, translating to an average annual decline of 13.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 460.9 thousand tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 13.9%.

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

Exports rice from Cuba

Exports in kind, K t

Cross-border shipments of rice from Cuba have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2019, exports reached 0.0 thousand tons, marking a 4.6% year-over-year gain. Over the 2017-2019 period, exports grew by 18.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cuba in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Mozambique were the top buyers of rice from Cuba, accounting for 34.2%, 28.9%, and 18.3% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 81.3% of Cuba's total rice exports by volume.

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

World map of product's exports from Cuba in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. In 2019, rice shipments from Cuba abroad registered 0.0 million US dollars, a 50.9% decrease from the previous year. The period saw a peak in 2018 and a trough in 2019, with a two-fold variation between these years. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 0.0 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 62.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Nicaragua, Mexico, and the Bahamas were the leading destinations for Cuba's rice exports in value terms, with shares of 47.5%, 20.2%, and 19.5%, respectively. Combined, these three countries accounted for 87.1% of total export flows by value.

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

World map of product's exports from Cuba in value, 2017-2020

Imports rice to Cuba

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year rise, the volume of rice imports into Cuba declined. In 2020, imports totaled 446.7 thousand tons, reflecting a significant decrease of 12.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 3.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.3%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 512.1 thousand tons, while the largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 6.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam was the dominant source for rice imports into Cuba, accounting for 71.5% of total flows in kind. The remaining share was distributed among several smaller markets.

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

Rice imports into Cuba have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Cuba imported 0.0 million US dollars worth of rice, which is 1.7% lower than in 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 9.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 273.3 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 27.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 12.3%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Vietnam and Uruguay were the dominant suppliers of rice to Cuba in value terms, together accounting for 80.8% of total imports. Other destinations each held relatively small shares.

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

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