Industry in Cuba

Sugarcane in Cuba.

The sugar industry was one of the pillar industries of the Cuban economy since the days of Spanish colonization, but now after the adoption of a state policy, sugar is now the main economic livelihood.   Domestic production has been distributed throughout the country, although most production is concentrated in the central and western areas. The sugar harvest is the crucial moment of collection and processing of sugar. Cuba ceased to be the major exporter, and is instead an importer of sugar.

Mining
Cuba, although not as developed as other industries, has major mines, mainly of nickel, cobalt and copper.  The main sources of nickel are in the town of Moa, Holguin Province and the province of Guantanamo (albeit on a smaller scale). This product in fact has become an important economic base within Cuba.  The government says that it will increase nickel production to 80,000 tonnes per year and it is currently carrying out programs to modernize the extraction process.  It is an important global reserve. Construction of a fourth company will amount to 100,000 tonnes of nickel.  Similarly, China is trying to sign cooperation agreements for the extraction of this mineral.

Cobalt is another mineral extracted in eastern Cuba, this is extracted in provinces such as Villa Clara.  Cuba produces approximately 10% of the mineral world and the most exported to China. Regarding this matter, Cuba has signed agreements with Canada. As with nickel, it is cooperating with China in exploring new reserves of this mineral in the North East.  Cuba also produces 400,000 tons of steel annually in Havana and Las Tunas.

For its geographical location, sea salt is extracted from Cuba in the Caribbean Sea.  It has made them a new product that is exported to international market and used for consumption. The production is approximately 200,000 tonnes in total.  The most important salt mines are located in Puerto Padre and Guantanamo, both in the east of the country.

Oil is a resource that still has small production, according to The World FactBook in its 2006 edition they are extracting and processing approximately 4000.000 tons of oil and gas annually.  This is equivalent to (70,000 b/d) (about 48% of domestic consumption).  The proven reserves are around 243 million barrels of oil and 67,890 billion cubic meters of gas (estimated 2006).

This item has great growth prospects, recent seismological studies estimated huge reserves in the Gulf of Mexico and Cuba has granted licenses to big multinationals for search of the precious mineral, which has aroused great expectations in both developing and protests environmental groups.

It is mined mainly in the provinces of Havana (Canasi, Yumuri, Jaruco, Puerto Escondido) and Matanzas (Varadero and Cardenas).   It is also processed in Cuba, by refineries found in four provinces. The first in Havana, the second in Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos in the third and lastly in Sancti Spiritus (Cabaiguan).

The latter is mainly used to produce oils for industrial commodities.   Zeolite and silica are abundant and they have begun a process of industrialization to extract these minerals that are currently exported to countries like Mexico or the Colombia area.
Construction
This is the development of construction materials like cement and bricks and architectural remodeling and repair.   The latter is the UNAICC, responsible for restoration projects and construction.   The building materials are produced in Artemisa, Mariel, Matanzas, Camaguey, Nuevitas, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
Machinery
Cuba has small construction machinery, including hydraulics, and is used to make hard labour easy and into light work.   In addition, tools and agricultural machinery are produced in the regions of Holguin (see Agricultural Implements Enterprise Holguin and Company 60th Anniversary of the October Revolution in Holguin), Ciego de Avila, Matanzas and Havana.  Projects have been submitted to reopen production KTP.

It is very important for the country’s economic recovery since it suffered a significant decline in its factories including automotive buses and tractors.   In Shipbuilding, in association with Venezuela Cuba they built an addition astillero.   These vessels are in the yard of James Cuba, yards are also in Matanzas and Havana.  State enterprises are known in Havana Claudio Arguelles Automotive and Guanajay.
Food industry
Examples of soft drinks and malts are Hatuey, Bucanero, and Antillana Manacas, milk jams (the most important product of the Star), canned food, milk (including soy yogurt spread in the junior secondary school and given to children), meat, oil (also given), refreshments and juices (including tropical).  Part of this industry is based on agriculture, for example, in the preparation of juices, with large crops of fruit required.

Textiles and Poligrafica
It also has a paper industry and printing industry. The main producers of paper are in Havana, Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba.  The production of textiles (fabrics, yarns and fabrics) is more in the western region of the country, except Holguin. Companies are producing in Havana, Bauta, Alquizar, Matanzas and Holguin Guines.