Beginnings of May, a boatload of chicken American arrived in Cuba providentially. A few days before it had been announced that the product, now the only meat with relative availability on the island, would not be for sale through the booklet for people over 14 years of age and the population had exploded, but the arrival of the Orange Spiritflying the Bahamas flag and coming from New Orleans, allowed the measure to be reversed.
The shortage is better understood now that the chicken purchase data for the month of April is known, which is half of what was made in December 2022 and, the worst thing, according to Cuban economist Pedro Monreal, is that ” According to reported data, there has been no [compras] in other countries” to compensate.
That month, 15,570 tons were imported from the US, compared to 30,883.8 in December, although that month It started with the advantage of being the second of the year with the largest quantity purchased from the neighboring country, after March. The data for this April represents the third consecutive monthly reduction and is the smallest amount since May 2022, when 14,248 tons of chicken were imported for a value of 14,308 million dollars.
The data for this April represents the third consecutive monthly reduction and is the smallest amount since May 2022
This is another of the aggravating factors in the situation, since the increase in the price of poultry meat causes spending to be much higher. This April, Cuba spent more than 17 million dollars, 4.4% less than last month, when the amount in tons is 14% lower. The explanation is that in March the price per kilo was 0.97 dollars, while a month later it had risen to 1.09, 12% more.
“The increase probably limited Cuban purchases,” argues Monreal.
The specialist has also looked at the rest of the exporters, one of which sharply reduced its shipments, and it is none other than Brazil, traditionally the second largest contributor to imports of this meat.
In April, the amount fell 48% compared to the previous month, which was already coming from low levels. In March, Brazil reduced exports to the island by 68.1%, with 1,137 tons, compared to 3,565 in February. But January was not a good month either, with only 975.5 tons, and yet only 593 tons arrived in April, the lowest amount since January 2022.
The rest of the traditional exporters, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands, are increasingly missing, since with the exception of the first, which exported 20 tons to the island in January, not a single kilogram of those origins has arrived again.
Instead, a supplier that was missing from the map is incorporated: Paraguay, but with only 83 tons this April.
Instead, a supplier that was missing from the map is incorporated: Paraguay, but with only 83 tons this April
The fall has made itself felt in everyday life. A box of chicken quarters, about 40 pounds, has risen to 10,000 pesos in the informal market in Havana, while in other provinces, such as Santiago de Cuba, it is already close to 15,000. Variety has also been affected and supplies of breast or whole chickens have been depressed, forcing customers to settle for thighs, which yield less.
some markets on-line Traditionally very well stocked and aimed at emigrants buying for their family on the Island, such as Supermarket, they have a poor offer of chicken. When boxes of breast or whole bird with giblets appear, they only last a few minutes on the portal, before they run out.
The viscera offers have also plummeted and, in virtual stores, where a few months ago you could choose between liver, gizzard or chicken neck, now there is hardly the latter for sale.
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