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The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel welcomed a delegation of sugar industry entrepreneurs from China in Havana, hoping to establish joint projects to attempt to revive the struggling national sugar agro-industry.
The official visit, led by Zhang Anming, Deputy General Director of the state-owned Guangxi State Controlled Capital Operations Group Limited, is part of the agreements reached with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Foreign lifeline for a crumbling sugar industry
During the meeting, Díaz-Canel highlighted the experience of the autonomous region of Guangxi in the cultivation and processing of sugarcane, as well as the importance of incorporating scientific and technical knowledge in the revitalization of the sector.
The connection with Cuban research centers and universities was also praised, in what appears to be a desperate attempt to reverse the structural decline of an industry that was key to the Cuban economy for decades.
The Chinese delegation will visit several sugar mills in the center of the island to assess their productive potential. The infrastructure is in critical condition after years of neglect, dismantling, lack of investment, and poor state management.
The worst harvest in over a century
The 2024-2025 sugar harvest marked a historic low for sugar production in Cuba. Less than 150,000 metric tons were produced. This figure is less than half of the state plan of 265,000 tons and confirms the collapse of a sector that was once the world's largest exporter of raw sugar in 1989, with 8 million tons.
Production was 1.3 million in 2019, about 350,000 in 2023, and is expected to fall below 200,000 in 2025. The industry, once a symbol of national identity, survives with barely a fraction of its capacity, relying on imports to meet the minimum domestic demand for sugar.
Productive collapse throughout Cuba
The figures for sugar production are alarming across all provinces of the country. Villa Clara reached less than 50% of its plan; Las Tunas, only 16%; Camagüey produced just 4,000 tons of the 23,500 expected; and Ciego de Ávila couldn't even start the harvest due to an outstanding electricity debt.
In Guantánamo, the Argeo Martínez sugar mill started more than a month late and ended with less sugar than the previous year.
The deterioration of infrastructure, the shortage of cane, the lack of fuel, constant blackouts, and a lack of planning have turned the sector into a true reflection of the country's structural economic crisis.
Despite the magnitude of the collapse, the government has not presented a comprehensive national recovery plan. The current focus is on foreign investment, particularly from China, in an attempt to keep afloat an industry that has been in decline for more than three decades.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Crisis in the Sugar Industry in Cuba and its Relationship with China
Why is Díaz-Canel seeking assistance from China for the Cuban sugar industry?
Díaz-Canel seeks help from China to reactivate the Cuban sugar industry due to the structural collapse facing the sector. Cuba has experienced a continuous decline in its sugar production, reaching historically low levels. China's expertise in the cultivation and processing of sugar cane, especially from the autonomous region of Guangxi, is seen as a potential solution to incorporate scientific and technical knowledge that could revitalize the sector.
What is the current state of sugar production in Cuba?
The production of sugar in Cuba has fallen to its lowest level in over a century. In the 2024-2025 harvest, Cuba produced less than 150,000 metric tons of sugar, far below the 265,000 tons planned by the state. This figure reflects a continuous deterioration of a sector that used to be the backbone of the national economy. The lack of adequate infrastructure, the scarcity of sugar cane, and poor state management have significantly contributed to this decline.
What are the main causes of the sugar crisis in Cuba?
The main causes of the sugar crisis in Cuba include the shortage of key inputs, deterioration of infrastructure, lack of fuel, constant blackouts, and poor state management. Furthermore, since the mass closure of sugar mills ordered by the government in 2002, industrial capacity has drastically decreased. These factors, combined with the absence of a comprehensive recovery plan, have led to the collapse of the sector.
What impact has the sugar crisis had on the Cuban economy?
The sugar crisis has worsened the already weakened Cuban economy. Sugar production, which was once an economic pillar and source of foreign exchange, is unable to meet domestic consumption, forcing the country to import sugar. This, combined with the decline in other strategic sectors such as tourism, has deepened the structural economic crisis, affecting Cuba's ability to import food, medicine, and fuel.
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