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 federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.
January 30, 2026 12:51 PM
·
Record milk output looks strong today, but shrinking replacement numbers mean future supply adjustments could be faster and more volatile.
January 30, 2026 11:44 AM
·
January 30, 2026 06:00 AM
·
AFBF Economist Danny Munch shares a closer look at the dairy market and the forces impacting producers today.
January 29, 2026 02:52 PM
·
Todd Janzen with Janzen Schroeder Ag Law explains the updated ag data use agreement model and what it means for farmers and companies alike.
January 29, 2026 01:25 PM
·
Early indications suggest the U.S. cattle industry may be nearing the end of its liquidation phase. Oklahoma State University livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel says the industry could be at or near the cyclical low.
January 29, 2026 12:44 PM
·
Beef x Dairy cattle with strong genetics and documentation are earning prices comparable to native feeders.
January 29, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Roger McEowen explains the concept of “lawfare” — the use of legal systems to intimidate or financially exhaust an opponent — which grew into a central theme of U.S. ag law in 2025.
January 29, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Reliable waterways lower costs, protect export demand, and support long-term farm profitability.
January 29, 2026 06:00 AM
·
