The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel welcomed a delegation of Chinese sugar industry executives to Havana, aiming to forge joint ventures to rescue the nation's struggling sugar agroindustry. This official visit, spearheaded by Zhang Anming, deputy general manager of the state-owned Guangxi State Controlled Capital Operations Group Limited, is part of agreements made with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Foreign Lifeline for a Collapsed Sugar Industry
During their meeting, Díaz-Canel emphasized the expertise of the Guangxi autonomous region in sugarcane cultivation and processing, stressing the need to integrate scientific and technical expertise to rejuvenate the sector. The collaboration with Cuban research centers and universities was also praised, seen as a desperate attempt to reverse the structural decline of an industry that was once pivotal to Cuba's economy for decades.
The Chinese delegation is set to tour various sugar mills in the central part of the island to assess production potential. Years of neglect, dismantling, lack of investment, and poor state management have left the infrastructure in critical condition.
The Worst Sugar Harvest in Over a Century
The 2024-2025 sugar harvest marked a historical low for Cuba, yielding less than 150,000 metric tons. This figure is less than half of the state plan of 265,000 tons, underscoring the collapse of a sector that was the world's largest exporter of raw sugar in 1989, producing 8 million tons. Production was at 1.3 million in 2019, dropped to around 350,000 in 2023, and is expected to fall below 200,000 by 2025. The industry, once a symbol of national identity, is barely surviving and relies on imports to meet the minimal domestic sugar demand.
Nationwide Production Collapse
Sugar production numbers are alarming across all provinces. Villa Clara achieved less than 50% of its target; Las Tunas managed only 16%; Camagüey produced just 4,000 tons out of the 23,500 planned; and Ciego de Ávila couldn't even start its harvest due to an electricity debt. In Guantánamo, the Argeo Martínez mill began operations over a month late and ended with less sugar than the previous year.
The deterioration of infrastructure, shortage of sugarcane, lack of fuel, frequent blackouts, and improvisation have turned the sector into a stark representation of the country's structural economic crisis. Despite the magnitude of the collapse, the government has yet to present a comprehensive national recovery plan. Current efforts focus on attracting foreign investment, particularly from China, in a bid to keep afloat an industry that has been in decline for more than three decades.
Reviving Cuba's Sugar Industry: Key Questions Answered
Why is Cuba's sugar industry struggling?
Cuba's sugar industry is facing challenges due to years of neglect, dismantling, lack of investment, and poor state management. These issues have resulted in deteriorated infrastructure and decreased production capacity.
How is China involved in Cuba's sugar industry revival?
China is providing expertise and potential investment to help rejuvenate Cuba's sugar industry. A delegation of Chinese sugar industry executives is collaborating with Cuban counterparts to assess and improve production capabilities.