LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — U.S. ag and food shipments to Cuba grew in 2025, even as legal and policy risk around Cuba trade remains a moving target for exporters. Data for January through November put U.S. food and agricultural exports to Cuba at $443.9 million, up 13.2 percent from the same period a year earlier.
The product mix indicates that Cuba relies heavily on U.S. protein and dairy channels.
Poultry shipments — led by frozen chicken leg quarters and other chicken cuts — were joined by sizable pork categories, including frozen swine cuts and processed pork items. Dairy lines were also prominent, including milk and cream products, butter, yogurt, and multiple cheese categories.
Staples and ingredients include rice, wheat flour, corn-based foods, beans, vegetables, and shelf-stable prepared foods.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Cuba remains a steady, nearby buyer of U.S. poultry, pork, dairy, and staples, but legal and compliance risks could still affect shipping and payment channels.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Most movement ran through Southeast export lanes, particularly Miami and Tampa, reinforcing the Gulf-to-Caribbean logistics corridor. That corridor can be sensitive to financing and compliance shifts that ripple through shippers and banks.
Later this month, Supreme Court arguments in two Helms-Burton cases are being watched for signals that could raise or lower legal exposure tied to Cuba-linked property claims, adding another layer of uncertainty around trade mechanics.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) are praising the passage of a bill to delist gray wolves as an endangered species by the U.S. House last week.
December 22, 2025 01:23 PM
·
Recent USDA export sales data show China has been active in the U.S. market, but analysts tell RFD-TV News that the timing is a key clue.
December 22, 2025 12:45 PM
·
In Minnesota, a legal and legislative battle has reached a tipping point. For over a decade, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the private deer-farming industry have been locked in a dispute over the management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
December 22, 2025 12:30 PM
·
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson reacts to the U.S. House’s passage of the SPEED Act, which aims to streamline federal permitting for energy and infrastructure projects, and discusses its potential impact on rural communities.
December 19, 2025 01:14 PM
·
Cattle markets are watching the Cattle-on-Feed Report for signs of tighter supplies, while USMEF warns limited China access is cutting producer profits.
December 19, 2025 01:05 PM
·
Weather-driven transportation disruptions can tighten logistics, affect basis levels, and delay grain movement during winter months.
December 19, 2025 12:55 PM
·
Lower milk prices may pressure margins, but strong cattle values could soften near-term financial impacts.
December 19, 2025 12:50 PM
·
USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg outlines the Farm Bridge Assistance Program and responds to calls from lawmakers and ag leaders for more assistance and expanded trade opportunities for farmers.
December 19, 2025 12:46 PM
·
Callahan is no stranger to agricultural trade and has been with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office since 2016.
December 19, 2025 11:53 AM
·
