The Dominican Republic has restarted its egg exports to Cuba, commencing with an initial shipment of 12 containers totaling 3,900,960 eggs, as reported by Miguel Lajara, a member of the Dominican Poultry Association (ADA), to the Dominican outlet Diario Libre.
These exports had been halted due to maritime logistical challenges stemming from U.S. embargo restrictions, which increased costs and reduced the availability of refrigerated containers on the route.
This first batch of exports comprises contributions from companies Agrokilda, Granja Wilse, Huevos Perla, and Agropecuaria SSK.
The revival of this trade was made possible by a subsidy from the Dominican government, offering $4,500 per exported container, capped at 20 containers per week.
With a budget of 25 million Dominican pesos, this program is managed by ADA in collaboration with the National Association of Egg-Laying Hen Producers (Asonaprop).
Impact of Resumed Exports
Lajara highlighted that shipments will now occur twice monthly, projecting over 13 million eggs sent to the island each month. This figure is a stark contrast to the 60 million eggs that the Dominican Republic exported monthly before the disruption, showcasing the ongoing logistical hurdles still faced on this route.
The ADA representative noted that Dominican eggs are highly valued in the Cuban market due to their quality and freshness. The geographical proximity between the countries enables the eggs to arrive in Cuba without needing refrigeration during transport.
Lajara also emphasized that the resumption of exports will help "preserve thousands of jobs" within the Dominican poultry sector and sustain national production stability. The Cuban market once accounted for between 5% and 7% of the Dominican Republic's total egg production.
Cuba's Dependence on Egg Imports
Cuba's reliance on Dominican imports underscores the collapse of its own poultry production. In October 2024, Cuban Agriculture Minister Ydael Pérez Brito acknowledged that the island's egg production had plummeted from four to five million eggs daily to just 1,200,000, with a loss of five million egg-laying hens over four years.
Cuban economist Pedro Monreal described this decline as more severe than the crisis during the 1990s Special Period. In provinces like Ciego de Ávila, production fell by 87% from 2016 to 2024, decreasing from 120 million to a mere 16 million eggs.
The shortage has led to extreme situations on the island, with egg cartons surpassing 5,000 pesos in the informal market. In Holguín, 54,000 egg-laying hens were culled due to a lack of feed. Cuba also imports eggs from Colombia and the United States, with the latter being sold in state-run stores in foreign currency.
Dominican Poultry Industry's Reliance on Cuba
By October 2025, Dominican producers were reporting shipments of up to 65 million eggs monthly to Cuba, making the island the mainstay of the neighboring country's poultry industry. Dominican businessman Fabio Baba summed it up succinctly: "If that door closes, we would lose one of the pillars supporting the current stability of the industry."
Insights into Egg Trade Between Dominican Republic and Cuba
What caused the initial halt in egg exports from the Dominican Republic to Cuba?
The suspension was due to maritime logistical difficulties caused by U.S. embargo restrictions, which increased costs and decreased the availability of refrigerated containers.
How has the Dominican government facilitated the resumption of egg exports to Cuba?
The Dominican government facilitated the trade's revival by approving a subsidy of $4,500 per exported container, with a weekly cap of 20 containers.
Why are Dominican eggs highly valued in Cuba?
Dominican eggs are prized in Cuba for their freshness and quality, aided by the geographical proximity that allows for transport without refrigeration.