In February 2025, agricultural and food exports from the United States to Cuba soared to their highest point in over a decade, reaching $47 million, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The total export value of $47,636,633.00 marks a 75.1% year-over-year increase compared to February 2024, when exports were $27,204,788.00, significantly surpassing the $24,592,601.00 recorded in February 2023.
This achievement makes February 2025 the month with the largest export volume since March 2014, when exports reached $53,021,705.00. The primary products sent to Cuba included chicken, pork, milk, and coffee. The U.S.-Cuba Economic and Trade Council, based in New York and advocating for increased business with the island, reported that February 2025's export basket also included $1,067,383 in used vehicles, $46,700 in trucks, $969,546 in motorcycles, and $7,468 in solar cells.
Understanding U.S. Food Exports to Cuba
Despite the embargo, these exports are allowed under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA) and the Cuban Democracy Act (CDA), as well as other regulations in place since 1992, overseen by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The TSREEA allows for direct, cash-based agricultural and food exports to Cuba, regardless of their end destination or usage, while healthcare products remain under CDA regulation.
The reported values do not include additional costs such as transportation, banking fees, or other logistical expenses.
Top 10 Products Exported to Cuba in February 2025
The following are the ten main products exported to Cuba in February 2025:
- Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters
Value: $15,950,060.00
Percentage of Total: 33.55% - Frozen Chicken Meat
Value: $8,399,732.00
Percentage of Total: 17.65% - Frozen Chicken Legs
Value: $6,300,652.00
Percentage of Total: 13.20% - Frozen Pork
Value: $2,580,189.00
Percentage of Total: 5.40% - Non-concentrated, Unsweetened Milk and Cream
Value: $1,584,593.00
Percentage of Total: 3.30% - Roasted, Non-decaffeinated Coffee
Value: $1,011,605.00
Percentage of Total: 2.10% - Prepared/Preserved Chicken Meat Paste
Value: $965,353.00
Percentage of Total: 2.00% - Rice
Value: $856,836.00
Percentage of Total: 1.80% - Mixed Seasonings and Spices
Value: $715,072.00
Percentage of Total: 1.50% - Animal Feed Preparations
Value: $534,296.00
Percentage of Total: 1.10%
The combined total of these top ten products amounts to $38,907,388.00, representing 81.7% of the total exported.
From January 2023 to February 2025, vehicles, motorcycles, and scooters were also exported to Cuba, with a cumulative value exceeding $76 million. Currently, Cuba's total purchases from the U.S. in 2025 amount to over $93 million, ranking the island 44th among U.S. export destinations.
Cuba's Expenditure on U.S. Imports
Here is a breakdown of Cuba's spending on U.S. imports over recent years:
- 2025: $93,168,816 - Rank 44 (of 212)
- 2024: $433,662,216 - Rank 49 (of 223)
- 2023: $342,607,027 - Rank 53 (of 227)
- 2022: $328,536,988 - Rank 55 (of 227)
- 2021: $304,774,413 - Rank 53 (of 213)
- 2020: $163,354,728 - Rank 61 (of 226)
- 2019: $257,659,479 - Rank 56 (of 223)
- 2018: $224,910,413 - Rank 60 (of 226)
FAQs on U.S. Exports to Cuba
Why can the U.S. export food to Cuba despite the embargo?
The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA) and Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) allow for food and agricultural exports to Cuba, with oversight from OFAC and BIS.
What were the top products exported to Cuba in February 2025?
The leading exports included frozen chicken leg quarters, frozen chicken meat, frozen chicken legs, frozen pork, and non-concentrated, unsweetened milk and cream.