Located in northern Caribbean and east of Mexico, the Republic of Cuba’s imported goods cost an estimated total US$4.38 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a -56.9% plunge since 2017 when Cuban imports totaled $10.2 billion.

Year over year, the overall cost of Cuba’s imported products increased by 9.7% compared to $3.99 billion during 2020.

Based on latest available data from 2018, over three-quarters (78.2%) of Cuban imports were bought from suppliers in Venezuela (23% of total), mainland China (13.4%), Spain (10.5%), Mexico (4.5%), Brazil (3.9%), Italy (3.4%), Vietnam (3.3%), Algeria (3.2%), Germany (3.07%), France (3.06%) and Canada (2.9%).

From a continents-based perspective, the leading share of Cuba’s imports originated from suppliers in Latin America (34.4%) excluding Mexico. Close behind were providers in Europe (30.8%) trailed by Asia (21%), North America (9.7%), Africa (3.7%), then Oceania (0.2%) led by New Zealand.

Given Cuba’s population of 11.3 million people, its estimated $4.38 billion worth of imports translates to roughly $390 in yearly product demand from every person in the Cuban collection of islands. That dollar metric exceeds the average $300 per capita for one year earlier during 2020.

Cuba’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Cuba’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Cuba.

1. Machinery including computers: US$524.5 million (12% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $400.6 million (9.1%)
3. Cereals: $358.3 million (8.2%)
4. Meat: $355.6 million (8.1%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $180.7 million (4.1%)
6. Vehicles: $168 million (3.8%)
7. Dairy, eggs, honey: $138.2 million (3.2%)
8. Other chemical goods: $131.2 million (3%)
9. Pharmaceuticals: $100.9 million (2.3%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $100 million (2.3%)

Cuba’s top 10 imports accounted for 56.1% of the overall cost of its product purchases from other countries.

The greatest increases from 2020 to 2021 were the product categories miscellaneous chemical goods (up 30.5%), meat (up 27.2%), then pharmaceuticals (up 23.8%).

There were 3 declining categories namely Cuba’s imports of dairy, eggs and honey (down -14.1%), machinery including computers (down -9.1%), and items made from iron or steel (down -8.3%).

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

Cuba’s Machinery Imports

In 2021, Cuban importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Refrigerators, freezers: US$51.6 million (down -7.6% from 2020)
2. Air or vacuum pumps: $35.7 million (up 60.1%)
3. Machinery parts: $34.8 million (up 16.6%)
4. Air conditioners: $30.9 million (down -24.9%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $30.5 million (down -8.9%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $30 million (down -16.6%)
7. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $26.9 million (down -3.4%)
8. Computers, optical readers: $26.4 million (up 51.3%)
9. Temperature-change machines: $19.5 million (up 52%)
10. Miscellaneous machinery: $18.4 million (down -34.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of air or vacuum pumps (up 60.1%), temperature-change machines (up 52%) then computers including optical readers (up 51.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

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 Electronics Imports

In 2021, Cuban importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics-related goods.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$105.2 million (up 24.2% from 2020)
2. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $40.3 million (up 130.4%)
3. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $37.9 million (up 93.6%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $31.4 million (down -25%)
5. Electric storage batteries: $23 million (up 58.5%)
6. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $22.6 million (up 35.2%)
7. Electrical converters/power units: $18.7 million (down -3.2%)
8. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $17.7 million (down -9.5%)
9. Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches: $17.2 million (down -10.7%)
10. Electric motors, generators: $8.3 million (up 72.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of television receivers, monitors and projectors (up 130.4%), electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 93.6%) then electric motors or generators (up 72.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

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 Cereals Imports

In 2021, Cuban importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

1. Wheat: US$153 million (up 9.1% from 2020)
2. Corn: $111.5 million (down -17.6%)
3. Rice: $81.4 million (up 38.3%)
4. Oats: $301,000 (down -30.5%)
5. Canary seeds, millet: $126,000 (up 2.4%)
6. Barley: $27,000 (2020 data unavailable)
7. Sorghum grain: $5,000 (2020 data unavailable)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of rice (up 38.3%), wheat (up 9.1%) then barley (up 2.4%) grew from 2020 to 2021.

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

Cuba’s Meat Imports

In 2021, Cuban importers spent the most on the following subcategories of meat-related products.

1. Poultry meat: US$331.4 million (up 24.6% from 2020)
2. Swine meat: $11.7 million (up 178.8%)
3. Frozen beef: $5.9 million (up 5.5%)
4. Salted/dried/smoked meat: $3.3 million (up 263.6%)
5. Fresh or chilled beef: $1.2 million (up 402.5%)
6. Sheep or goat meat: $371,000 (down -27.1%)
7. Pig, poultry fat: $229,000 (down -39.9%)
8. Red meat offal: $223,000 (up 70.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Cuban purchases of pig or poultry fat (up 212.3%), fresh or chilled beef (up 27.7%) and sheep or goat meat (up 3.5%) increased from 2020 to 2021.

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.
 

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 September 10, 2022

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on September 10, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 10, 2022

Wikipedia, Cuba. Accessed on September 10, 2022