For the first time since the 19th century, the annual sugar production in Cuba will fall below 200,000 metric tons, according to recent estimates based on official reports and sector sources collected by the agency Reuters.
Although the decline has been ongoing for several years, the figure marks a new historic low in an industry that was for decades the economic pillar of the country and a symbol of its national identity.
The state-owned company AZCUBA had planned to achieve a production of 265,000 metric tons by 2025. However, with the sugar harvest nearly complete, the actual production is estimated to be at least 100,000 tons below the target, according to calculations from the mentioned source.
In 2023, Cuba produced 350,000 tons, while in 2019 the figure was 1.3 million. In its golden era, in 1989, the country reached a production of 8 million tons, becoming the world's largest exporter of raw sugar. Today, the island will have to import more sugar than it produces to meet the minimum internal demand.
The 2022-2023 sugar harvest, with its 350,000 tons of sugar, became the worst harvest since 1898, when, during the midst of the War of Independence, the sugar mills of Cuba produced 300,000 tons.
Impact on the rum industry
The collapse of the sugar harvest also threatens one of Cuba's most iconic industries: rum. According to official data, the production of 96% ethyl alcohol—an essential ingredient for crafting authentic rums—dropped by 70%, from 573,000 hectoliters in 2019 to just 174,000 in 2024. Another type of alcohol, used in some variants of rum, experienced a similar decline.
"Authentic Cuban rum must be made with alcohol derived from Cuban sugarcane. We are using accumulated reserves, but the concern is whether we will have raw materials to replenish those inventories," commented a foreign businessman in the sector to Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Structural crisis
The causes of the collapse are multiple: shortages of key supplies, industrial bankruptcies, fuel deficits, and poor management. As May progresses, the summer rains further impact the yields of the few sugar mills still in operation.
Some provinces reflect the severity of the decline: Sancti Spíritus, the only one to meet its plan, barely reached 19,000 tons; Villa Clara, once a sugar powerhouse, only achieved 38% of its goal of 27,000 tons; Cienfuegos reported approximately two-thirds of its target of 38,000 tons; and in the east of the country, Las Tunas produced only 5,000 tons, just 11% of its plan.
A fall that doesn't stop
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the former benefactor of the Cuban regime, the sugar industry has been in continuous decline. U.S. sanctions, along with structural inefficiency and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have accelerated this process.
The collapse of the 2025 sugar harvest not only exacerbates the country's structural economic crisis but also jeopardizes entire sectors such as food, exports, and industry. What was once "the locomotive of the Cuban economy" is now in decline, without a clear recovery plan in sight.
Frequently asked questions about the sugar crisis in Cuba
What is the current situation of sugar production in Cuba?
The production of sugar in Cuba has plummeted to historic lows, estimated to be below 200,000 metric tons by 2025, the lowest figure since the 19th century. This decline highlights a structural crisis in an industry that used to be the economic backbone of the country.
What factors have led to the collapse of the Cuban sugar industry?
The crisis in Cuba's sugar industry is due to multiple factors, including shortages of supplies, industrial bankruptcies, fuel deficits, and poor management. Additionally, adverse weather conditions and a lack of effective planning have exacerbated the situation.
How does this crisis affect other Cuban industries?
The sugar collapse also impacts rum production, as the lack of ethyl alcohol derived from Cuban cane threatens the crafting of authentic rums. The crisis in sugar production also affects sectors like food and exports.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the sugar crisis?
So far, no effective measures have been implemented to reverse the decline of the sugar industry. The government has acknowledged the need for "internal resizing" and has mentioned the modernization of machinery, but concrete actions have been insufficient.
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