CUBA-EXPORTS FOR FARMERS IN USA.
In recent days, the U.S. government signaled a thaw in relations with Cuba by withdrawing decades-old restrictions on Americans who want to visit or send money to relatives in Cuba. During the Summit of the Americas, President Barack Obama said the "the United States seeks a new beginning" with Cuba, though he said that the communist government should release political prisoners, afford greater freedoms and reduce official fees on money sent here from the States, according to The Associated Press.
Located just 90 miles from the tip of Key West, Fla., the island is home to more than 11 million people. The U.S. embargo against Cuba is a commercial, economic and financial embargo that was imposed on Cuba on Feb. 3, 1962. Some in the U.S. meat industry are hopeful this most recent move by Obama will lead to normalizing trade.
Cubans prefer meat such as shredded beef or pork with onions. What might be surprising to some readers is despite the trade embargo, Cuba is already a U.S. meat customer. In fact, U.S. Meat Export Federation spokesman Joe Schuele recently relayed to MEATPOULTRY.com that the U.S. was the largest pork supplier to Cuba in 2008, with exports valued at $12.65 million, followed by Canada at $6.1 million and Chile at $4.6 million (all figures include variety meats), based on Global Trade Atlas data. These U.S. exports were double the 2007 value, but were actually smaller than the $14 million exported to Cuba during 2006, Mr. Schuele said.
"The U.S. does not export a significant volume of beef to Cuba, but Brazil led this market last year with $8.35 million, then Canada at $6.6 million, Uruguay $6.2 million, the E.U. with $6 million and Chile with $1.2 million," he added.
"Uruguay and Argentina’s exports to Cuba were down last year (perhaps due to drought and export restrictions imposed by those countries), while Brazil, Canada and the E.U. posted significant growth," he said. "Similar to pork, total beef exports to Cuba [including variety meats] were larger in 2008 compared to 2007, but trailed export volume/value seen during 2006."
Total global red-meat exports to Cuba during 2006 were more than 18,000 metric tons for beef/beef variety meats and more than 17,000 metric tons for pork/pork variety meats, so this provides some indication of the market size, Mr. Schuele said.
"It is difficult to predict, however, what the growth potential might be in Cuba," he added. "Even though some agricultural exports flow from the United States to Cuba, the stagnant trade relations between the two countries have prevented any development of marketing strategies for U.S. pork or beef or any genuine analysis of the growth opportunities this market may offer."
While market-access conditions vary greatly among Caribbean nations, the region has displayed a growing appetite for U.S. red meat, according to the U.S.M.E.F. Beef exports to the Caribbean grew by 14% in value last year to about $79 million. Pork exports increased by 58% in value to about $71 million. Lamb exports to the Caribbean tripled compared to 2007 to almost $13 million (though most of this total was shipped to Bermuda).
"Obviously, Cuba’s economic and political climate does not match the region as a whole by any means, but this trend could suggest some promising growth at some point in the future," Mr. Schuele concluded.