The US sold in the last 15 months cars for 20 million dollars to Cuba
HAVANA, May 7, Cuba imported more than 20 million dollars in vehicles of various types from the United States between 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, a figure that indicates the increase in that business, from which several companies in the northern country benefit. They received licenses from Washington to do so, reported the Cuba-US Economic and Trade Council.
According to a report from that entity, which favors the increase in commercial exchange between both countries, despite Washington’s embargo against Havana, this total sum includes, in addition to new and used cars, motorcycles, tractors and various spare parts. nature.
The total figure does not reveal a factor to be addressed: between January and March the amount invested by buyers on the Island in used cars of various types, including luxury models from Tesla and Mercedes Benz that circulate on Cuban roads, has almost triplicate.
For used cars between 1,500 and 3,000 cubic centimeters (cc), $5,351,491 were invested on the Island in 2023. In the first three months of 2024, however, the sum amounts to $13,575,731.
Add to this the amount of purchases of heavy trucks: so far this year, $123,300 have been invested in vehicles of this type with a capacity of 20 tons, and $37,500 in those with a capacity of up to five tons.
As for trucks and vehicles for transporting goods, purchases were in the order of $89,679.
Compare the amount accumulated in three months with the $89,938 invested in five-ton trucks in 2023, and the $448,491 in 20-ton trucks, all diesel, shipped from Miami, Tampa and New Orleans.
Parts and spare parts must be added to the total amount of vehicle imports. In the first quarter of 2024, acquisitions include bumper stampings ($2,881); brake and brake booster parts ($3,066); tractor axles and parts ($2,620); road tires and vehicle parts ($30,760), among others.
The sums do not cease to attract attention, taking into account that the licenses granted by the United States Department of Commerce to certain suppliers from that nation have the condition that the buyer in Cuba be a natural person residing on the Island or a legal entity. Cuban and foreign, ranging from “private companies owned by Cuban nationals” to embassies.
If we take into account that, as commented by Alejandro Cantón, director of the company Maravana Cargo, of Hialeah, which has a license from the US Department of the Treasury to send articles and equipment of all types to Cuba, including cars, the General Customs of The Republic of Cuba charges between 20,000 and 56,000 dollars for each imported car, it is a big business for Havana.
These imports are also made through Cuban regime firms authorized to operate as intermediaries in acquisitions. That list is made up of IMPEXPORT, S.U.R.L; SERLOVEM S.U.R.L; TRANSIMPORT; MAQUIMPORT; DIVEP; TRADEX, and MCV Comercial.
While this is happening, the Cuban Government insists that Washington’s embargo against Havana is an act of genocide and blames the sanctions against the regime for the deprivation experienced by the island’s inhabitants.
