US Ag/Food Exports To Cuba Increase 25.4% In 2019 Compared To 2018; September Up 135.4%- Will It Continue?

ECONOMIC EYE ON CUBA©
November 2019

September 2019 Food/Ag Exports To Cuba Increase 135.4%- 1
Cuba Ranked In September 48th Of 229 U.S. Food/Ag Export Markets- 2
Cuba Year-To-Year Exports Increase 25.4%- 2
September 2019 Healthcare Product Exports US$5,040.00- 2
September 2019 Humanitarian Donations US$278,851.00- 3
Obama Administration Initiatives Exports Continue To Increase- 3
U.S. Port Export Data- 16

SEPTEMBER 2019 FOOD/AG EXPORTS TO CUBA INCREASE 135.4%- Exports of food products and agricultural commodities from the United States to the Republic of Cuba in September 2019 were US$28,779,856.00 compared to US$12,226,970.00 in September 2018 and US$21,329,099.00 in September 2017. 

United States exports from January 2019 through September 2019 were US$246,618,468.00 compared to US$196,740,098.00 from January 2018 through September 2018, representing an increase of 25.4%.   

Total reported agricultural commodity and food product exports from the United States to the Republic of Cuba from December 2001 (first authorized shipments) through September 2019 is US$6,121,831,686.00. 

The data contains information on exports from the United States to the Republic of Cuba- products within the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA) of 2000, Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) of 1992, and regulations implemented (1992 to present) for other products by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury and Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce. 

The TSREEA re-authorized the direct commercial (on a cash basis) export of food products (including branded food products) and agricultural commodities from the United States to the Republic of Cuba, irrespective of purpose.  

The TSREEA does not include healthcare products, which remain authorized and regulated by the CDA.  Total CDA exports from 2003 through September 2019 is US$25,738,214.00. 

LINK To Complete Report In PDF Format

Reuters Americas
London, United Kingdom
7 November 2019

“One of the few exhibitors [FIHAV annual trade fair in Havana] present was Jay Brickman, vice president of Florida-based shipping company Crowley Maritime Corp, which has been shipping foods to Cuba for nearly two decades under an exemption to the U.S. trade embargo.  U.S. exports to Cuba suddenly contracted over the last month, likely due to Cuba's difficulty getting financing in the wake of tighter sanctions.  Next week, Brickman said, his firm would be sending a ship over with just 13 containers on board, compared with the 50 containers needed to break even.  "It's worse than ever before," he said.”