Located in northern Caribbean and east of Mexico, the Republic of Cuba’s purchases of imported products totaled US$4.44 billion in 2024.

That projected dollar amount results from a -38.6% reduction from $7.2 billion in Cuban spending on imports five years earlier in 2020.

Year over year, the overall cost of Cuba’s imported products slowed to a -1.1% reduction compared to $4.49 billion starting from 2023.

Cuba’s Best International Trade Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data from 2022 shows that 49.2% of products imported by Cuba was furnished by exporters in: mainland China (11.5% of the Cuban total), Spain (10.1%), United States of America (4.6%), Argentina (3.5%), Mexico (3.5%), Brazil (3.4%), Germany (2.5%), Italy (2.3%), Vietnam (2.2%), Netherlands (2%), Canada (1.9%) and Venezuela (1.6%).

From a continents-based perspective, the leading share of Cuba’s imports originated from suppliers in Europe (35%), Asia (29.6%) and Latin America (18.4%) excluding Mexico. Close behind were providers in North America (15.6%) trailed by Oceania (0.9%) led by New Zealand, then Africa (0.4%).

Given Cuba’s population of 11 million people, its estimated $4.44 billion worth of imports translates to roughly $400 in yearly product demand from every person in the Cuban collection of islands. That dollar metric lags the average $410 per capita for one year earlier during 2023.

Cuba’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Cuba’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Cuba.

1. Machinery including computers: US$529.1 million (11.9% of total imports)
2. Meat: $458.4 million (10.3%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $384.3 million (8.7%)
4. Vehicles: $290.8 million (6.5%)
5. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $253.8 million (5.7%)
6. Cereals: $177.5 million (4%)
7. Dairy, eggs, honey: $158.3 million (3.6%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $125.3 million (2.8%)
9. Cereal/milk preparations: $120.7 million (2.7%)
10. Meat/seafood preparations: $108.3 million (2.4%)

Cuba’s top 10 imports accounted for 58.7% of the overall cost of its product purchases from other countries.

The greatest increases were recorded for the top product categories dairy, eggs and honey (up 33.5% from 2023) then electrical machinery and equipment (up 31.5%) and cereal or milk preparations (up 30.9%).

Categories posting double-digit percentage declines were for Cuba’s imports of cereals (down -31.7% from 2023) then plastics both as materials and items made from plastic (down -29.3%).

Please note that information presented under the sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Cuba’s Machinery Imports

In 2024, Cuban importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Refrigerators, freezers: US$51.6 million (up 56.6% from 2023)
2. Computers, optical readers: $38.9 million (up 38.8%)
3. Air or vacuum pumps: $36.7 million (up 9.8%)
4. Liquid pumps and elevators: $30.7 million (down -32%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $30.5 million (up 12.5%)
6. Air conditioners: $29.8 million (up 49.2%)
7. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $28.5 million (down -10.9%)
8. Machinery parts: $22.2 million (down -28.3%)
9. Piston engine parts: $20.8 million (down -28.8%)
10. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $16.2 million (up 46.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of refrigerators and freezers (up 56.6%), air conditioners (up 49.2%) then dishwashing, cleaning, drying and filling machines (up 46.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among Cuban businesses and consumers.

Cuba’s Meat Imports

In 2024, Cuban importers spent the most on the following subcategories of meat-related products.

1. Poultry meat: US$369.3 million (up 11.4% from 2023)
2. Swine meat: $59.5 million (up 35.4%)
3. Frozen beef: $15.9 million (down -3%)
4. Red meat offal: $6.2 million (up 389.1%)
5. Salted/dried/smoked meat: $4.5 million (down -36.7%)
6. Sheep or goat meat: $1 million (down -10%)
7. Fresh or chilled beef: $749,000 (up 69.8%)
8. Pig, poultry fat: $68,000 (down -83%)
9. Miscellaneous meat: $23,000 (down -8%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of red meat offal (up 389.1%), fresh or chilled beef (up 69.8%) then swine meat (up 35.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported meat-related products among Cuban businesses and consumers.

Cuba’s Electronics Imports

In 2024, Cuban importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics-related goods.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$78.5 million (up 57.4% from 2023)
2. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $54.7 million (up 915.3%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $36.9 million (up 13.3%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $30 million (up 87.8%)
5. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $24.6 million (up 122%)
6. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $20 million (down -8.4%)
7. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $18 million (up 23.4%)
8. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $17.8 million (down -14.9%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $15.8 million (up 19.4%)
10. Electric storage batteries: $15.6 million (down -41.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 915.3%), electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 122%) then electrical converters and power units (up 87.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gain clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics-related goods among Cuban businesses and consumers.

Cuba’s Vehicles Imports

In 2024, Cuban importers spent the most on the following subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$119.8 million (up 41.5% from 2023)
2. Motorcycles: $45.9 million (up 47.9%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $34.7 million (down -15.8%)
4. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $25.6 million (up 113%)
5. Trucks: $21.2 million (down -19.1%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $17.7 million (up 238.2%)
7. Tractors: $6.8 million (down -42.7%)
8. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $5.9 million (up 58%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $5 million (down -11.9%)
10. Trailers: $4.8 million (up 44.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 238.2%), motorcycle parts or accessories (up 113%) then bicycles plus other non-motorized cycles (up 58%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Cuban businesses and consumers.
 

See also Cuba’s Top 10 Exports, China’s Top 10 Exports and Spain’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on October 28, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on October 28, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 28, 2025

Wikipedia, Cuba. Accessed on October 28, 2025