Cuba's sugar production during the 2024-2025 harvest season has plunged to under 150,000 tons, marking its lowest point in over a hundred years and less than half of last year's output. This stark decline, reported by EFE citing official sources, underscores the ongoing deterioration of a sector that was once the backbone of the national economy.
The outcome drastically falls short of the government target of 265,000 tons, as the industry struggles with a multitude of challenges including limited availability of sugarcane, frequent power outages, fuel shortages, and crumbling infrastructure.
Warnings that production would drop below 200,000 metric tons were already circulating by May, signaling a new historic low and the failure of the official plan. This downward trend has persisted for several years.
Regional Struggles Highlight Inefficiencies
In Villa Clara, sugar production has not met targets since 2019. This year, factories like Héctor Rodríguez and Quintín Bandera achieved less than 50% of their planned output due to poor planting, seed shortages, and incomplete industrial repairs, all amidst an environment of improvisation.
Granma faced similar issues, concluding the harvest with just 5,277 tons of sugar, far short of the anticipated 20,000. The Enidio Díaz Machado mill was the last to grind, unable to offset the poor performance of other facilities operating at minimal capacity.
Camagüey's situation was grim, with only 4,000 tons produced against a plan of 23,500. The Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plant, the only active one in the province, lost 87% of its milling time due to breakdowns, technical deficiencies, and supply shortages. Authorities acknowledged the severity of these outcomes.
Widespread Impact Across Provinces
Guantánamo managed just 2,900 tons, 38% of its goal. Operations at the Argeo Martínez plant were delayed by over 40 days and plagued by instability, despite recent investments. The output was even lower than the previous year.
In Las Tunas, the Antonio Guiteras plant achieved merely 16% of its target due to stoppages caused by basic resource shortages, marking the worst campaign in the history of Cuba's largest mill.
Ciego de Ávila's Primero de Enero plant did not participate in the harvest due to an electrical debt that halted operations. Workers reported forced relocations and delayed salary payments amid an unresolved crisis.
Historical Decline and Economic Impact
The 2022-2023 harvest closed with 350,000 tons of sugar, the worst result in 125 years, falling below even the levels of 1898. This season also failed to meet the official plan, exacerbating the sector's crisis.
In 2021, production reached 792,000 tons, only 66% of the target, marking the poorest performance since 1901. Authorities attributed this failure to logistical, harvesting, and transportation issues.
Since 2002, when the government ordered the dismantling of over 100 mills, the country's industrial capacity has been drastically reduced. Currently, Cuba cannot meet its domestic consumption needs, estimated at 600,000 to 700,000 tons annually, and is again reliant on imports to satisfy minimal demand.
Once a national pride and major source of foreign currency, the sugar industry is now mired in a structural crisis that deepens each year, with no clear signs of recovery on the horizon.
Understanding Cuba's Sugar Industry Crisis
Why has Cuba's sugar production reached such low levels?
Cuba's sugar production has declined due to factors such as limited sugarcane availability, frequent power outages, fuel shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure, among others.
What impact has this decline had on Cuba's economy?
The decline has significantly impacted Cuba's economy, as the sugar industry was a major source of foreign currency and a crucial part of the national economy. The country now struggles to meet its domestic sugar consumption needs.