Cuba is experiencing one of the most disastrous sugar harvests in its recent history. Despite official rhetoric of "creative resistance" and political leaders visiting sugar mills, the harsh reality is evident: key mills are producing less than 15% of their targets, others are barely operational amid power outages, outdated machinery, and scarce sugarcane.
In Calimete, Matanzas, the Jesus Sablon Moreno mill has reached 100 days into the harvest without achieving its goal of 16,700 tons, still needing to produce 5,000 more, contingent on favorable weather conditions, as reported by the official newspaper Girón.
The publication highlighted the daily struggles against frequent power cuts, equipment breakdowns, lack of spare parts, and urgent repairs. The human effort, while commendable, does not make up for the deterioration of a production system in such a critical state.
Struggles Across Provinces
The situation is even more dire in Santiago de Cuba, where the Dos Ríos mill, the only one active in the province, had produced merely 13% of its plan (around 3,000 tons of 20,811) after 73 days into the harvest. Local authorities acknowledge the crisis, yet they persist in urging increased sugar production to save the harvest and the industry, both agriculturally and industrially, as recently emphasized by Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party.
Las Tunas is also grappling with disaster. The Antonio Guiteras mill, the largest in the country, barely reached 11% of its plan by mid-April. During a visit, Vice Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca called for extraordinary efforts from the workforce to spark a turnaround, as reported by the provincial newspaper 26.
Even the provincial communist party first secretary, Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, openly admitted that "sugar production is hitting historic lows" during a recent analysis of the local economy's performance in the first quarter of 2025.
Sancti Spíritus: A Rare Bright Spot?
Amidst this collapse, official media highlighted on April 30 that Sancti Spíritus became the country's first province to meet its sugar production plan. The official Escambray newspaper "celebrated" the achievements of the Melanio Hernández mill in Taguasco, praising it for "exceeding all industrial performance parameters, optimizing cane potential, ensuring high-quality grain production for consumption, and contributing over 4,000 MW/h to the National Electroenergy System."
However, the report failed to disclose the actual tonnage produced, raising doubts about the extent of this supposed success. Notably, according to previous reports, the target was over 19,000 tons, to be met by March 11. Moreover, a significant portion of the cane used came from the neighboring Uruguay mill and the "Heriberto Duquesne" mill in Villa Clara, diminishing local accomplishments.
A Failing Industry
Back in January, Cuba's sugar harvest was in one of its worst crises: out of 14 planned mills, only six were operational. This dire scenario was attributed to late starts and the non-inclusion of eight mills at that time, which were responsible for 75% of the sector's production shortfall. The preparation of industries for milling was severely hampered by resource shortages. The energy crisis delayed repairs in mills, mechanization workshops, and cleaning centers, while limiting the production of necessary machinery parts and components.
The 2022-2023 harvest, with 350,000 tons of sugar, marked the worst yield since 1898 when Cuban mills produced 300,000 tons amid the War of Independence. These figures underscore the drastic decline of a sector that once placed the island among the world's leading sugar exporters. In December 2023, the government admitted it was "shameful" for a country, historically one of Latin America's top sugar producers, to have to import sugar.
More than just a harvest, what Cuba faces in 2025 is the slow, official burial of its sugar industry. The issue is no longer about meeting plans; each surviving mill seems to do so by sheer luck. Sugar, once a sweetener of the nation's economy, now stands as a symbol of its decline.
Insights into Cuba's Sugar Industry Collapse
What factors are contributing to the decline of Cuba's sugar industry?
The decline is attributed to outdated machinery, insufficient resources, frequent power outages, and a lack of spare parts, all exacerbated by the country's economic and energy crises.
How is the current sugar harvest compared to historical figures?
The 2025 sugar harvest is among the worst, with production figures rivaling those during the War of Independence in 1898 when only 300,000 tons were produced.
What are the prospects for Cuba's sugar industry moving forward?
Prospects appear grim as the industry faces systemic issues and a lack of investment, making recovery challenging without significant change.