Official data confirms severity of Cuba's food crisis

Official data published on Cuban foreign trade confirm the severity of the food crisis that crosses the country.

Economist Pedro Monreal stated that the figures revealed by the Cuban government are very worrying and reveal adecrease in imports of poultry meat, wheat, corn, rice and powdered milk.

In a Twitter thread and based on the data provided by theNational Statistics and Information Office (ONEI), the specialist explained that the panorama is serious and exposes food insecurity in the country.

Imports of poultry meat (mostly from the US) reflect the "catastrophe of domestic production" of meat because those imports unsuccessfully try to compensate for the pork crisis and the evaporation of domestic poultry meat production.

In addition, imports of corn, used, among other things, in animal feed, have been drastically reduced, which puts this productive sector in danger.

The graph inserted by the economist shows a drop in corn imports almost to the levels seen 10 years ago.

Rice imports (mostly from Vietnam) have remained relatively stable, but "in the context of the reduction in national production, this means a reduction in the total supply of the product and its effect on a higher price."

Powdered milk and unground wheat have also shown their lowest levels since the pandemic.

In 2022, wheat had the lowest import level (in tons) since the food import statistical series began to be recorded in 1998.

TheUS chicken exports to Cuba increased during last June, after having decreased for three consecutive months.

It is the most widely purchased product in the United States and ranks above others such as dairy products, pork, pastry and pasta products, non-alcoholic beverages, among others.