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PORK PRODUCTS

Pork products make up the most important class in Cuba's imports of meats. The following table shows the imports of pork products over a period of years:

IMPORTS OF PORK PRODUCTS INTO CUBA

Lard.-Lard is the principal pork product imported into Cuba and, in point of value, it is exceeded only by rice in the Cuban import trade in foodstuffs. With the exception of a few thousand pounds, all the lard is obtained from the United States. In 1913 the imports amounted to 67,045,000 pounds, valued at $6,334,000, as compared with 95,376,000 pounds, valued at $11,235,000 in 1923.

Salt pork. The imports of salt pork have been considerably larger since the war than before. In 1913 the total imports amounted to 19,286,000 pounds, of which all but 127,000 pounds came from the United States. In 1923 the imports totaled 39,980,000 pounds, of I which countries other than the United States supplied only 2,000 pounds.

Hams and shoulders.-The receipts of hams and shoulders have been on a somewhat higher level since the war than in 1913, although the imports in 1922 were 4,228,000 pounds as compared with 5,206,000 pounds in 1913. In 1920, 1921, and 1923, however, the imports were 9,456,000, 6,402,000, and 6,615,000 pounds, respectively. Spain is the only other source of ham, although the amounts obtained are small, having been only 354,000 pounds in 1913 and 269,000 pounds in 1923.

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Bacon. The imports of bacon into Cuba fluctuate greatly from year to year, but Cuba is not ordinarily a large consumer of this product. Practically all of the imports come from the United States.

In 1913 the total imports of bacon amounted to 20,000 pounds and in 1923 to 37,000 pounds. In 1920 and 1921, however, the imports amounted to 13,678,000 pounds and 7,736,000 pounds, respectively.

Fresh pork. The imports of fresh pork do not ordinarily make up a large item, as in 1913 they amounted to 121,000 pounds and in 1920 to 422,000 pounds. In 1922 and 1923, however, the imports of fresh pork amounted, respectively, to 2,746,000 pounds and 1,825,000 pounds. These relatively large imports of fresh pork help to offset the small bacon imports for those years. All of the fresh

pork comes from the United States.

BEEF PRODUCTS

Jerked beef (tasajo) is the only important beef item imported into Cuba. In this trade the United States plays no part, since most of the jerked beef is obtained from Uruguay and Argentina.

In 1913 Cuba imported 28,051,000 pounds of jerked beef, valued at $3,057,000. Of this amount Uruguay furnished, 20,300,000 pounds and Argentina 7,593,000 pounds. In 1923 the jerked beef imports amounted to 49,802,000 pounds, valued at $4,642,000, of which Uruguay accounted for 48,393,000 pounds and Argentina 1,404,000 pounds. Brazil has furnished some jerked beef in postwar years, the largest amount being 1,169,000 pounds in 1922.

The imports of other beef products-namely, salt beef, fresh beef, and tinned beef-are less important. In 1923 they amounted to 1,022,779 pounds, 566,000 pounds, and 186,000 pounds, respectively. The United States supplies practically all of these products.

Imports of canned meat into Cuba amounted to 3,360,000 pounds in 1913 as compared with 3,392,000 pounds in 1923. The United States is the principal source of canned meat, followed by Spain and, since the war, China.

The Cuban imports of jerked beef and canned meat in 1913 and in 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 were as follows:

CUBAN IMPORTS OF BEEF PRODUCTS, AND CANNED MEAT

FISH

Codfish.-Codfish is by far the most important sea product imported into Cuba. In 1913 the principal sources of codfish were, in the order of importance, Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. During the war the imports of codfish from the United States increased enormously from 776,000 pounds in 1913 to 9,838,000 pounds in 1920. Since 1920, however, imports from the United States have been steadily declining, and those from Norway and the United Kingdom show an equally steady increase. In 1923 the leading sources of codfish were Canada, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The increase in imports from the latter country from 578,000 pounds in 1922 to 1,709,000 pounds in 1923 is particularly noteworthy. The Norwegian cured codfish seems to be preferred in the Cuban market.

Other fish (smoked, dried, salted, or otherwise preserved).-Herring, mackerel, and salmon are also imported in comparatively small quantities. In 1923 the imports of herring amounted to 1,755,000 pounds, valued at $90,765. The United States, Spain, and the Canary Islands are the principal sources of supply. For the same period the imports of mackerel and salmon amounted to 71,264 pounds and 4,354 pounds, valued at $3,594 and $373, respectively. Canned fish. Sardines and salmon are the only canned fish imported into Cuba to any large extent, and of the two sardines are by far the more important.

The remarkable increase in the imports from the United States is the feature of the trade in sardines. In 1913, which was typical of pre-war conditions, 93,000 pounds of sardines were imported into Cuba from the United States. In 1920 the imports reached the unusually high figure of 7,169,000 pounds. In 1921 and 1922, however, imports exceeded 1,000,000 pounds in both years and in 1923 amounted to 2,500,000 pounds. Imports from Spain amounted to 809,000 pounds in 1913, but the imports from that country have been much smaller since the war. Imports from Norway and France also show a decided falling off.

Total imports of sardines into Cuba amounted to 1,202,000 pounds in 1913 as compared with 2,191,000 pounds in 1921, 1,451,000 pounds in 1922, and 3,088,000 pounds in 1923.

The imports of canned salmon are ordinarily small. In 1920, however, they amounted to 1,400,000 pounds. Practically all of the canned salmon is obtained from the United States.

All other canned fish are grouped together in the Cuban statistics. Spain is the principal source of these imports. The total imports of canned fish other than sardines and salmon was 3,582,000 pounds, valued at $358,000, in 1913, as compared with 7,930,000 pounds, valued at $891,000, in 1923.

Shellfish. The imports of shellfish into Cuba are not large. In 1923 the imports of oysters amounted to 120,000 pounds, valued at $14,085. The United States supplied all but 1,605 pounds. Imports of all other shellfish amounted to 1,048,000 pounds, of which the United States supplied about 98 per cent of the total. This includes large amounts of shrimp packed on the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Small amounts of "other shellfish" are obtained from Mexico, China, Japan, and Spain.

Cuban imports of codfish, sardines, and canned salmon in 1913, 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 were as follows:

The Cuban imports of condensed milk, cheese, and butter during the years 1913, 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 follow:

IMPORTS OF DAIRY PRODUCTS INTO CUBA

Canned milk.-Cuba is a large importer of canned milk and is one of the largest markets the United States has for this product. The Cuban statistics group both evaporated and condensed milk under the heading "condensed milk" (leche condensada), but the largest part of the imports is actually condensed milk. A considerable amount of evaporated milk is also imported.

In 1913 the United Kingdom was the principal source of canned milk, supplying 56 per cent of the total. The United States was second, with about 33 per cent. Since 1920, however, the United States has supplied the major portion of the canned milk. In 1923 the total imports of canned milk amounted to 46,300,000 pounds, of which the United States supplied about 78 per cent, the United Kingdom 13 per cent, and the remainder was divided between Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway.

The sale of powdered milk is limited, and the Cubans show a distinct preference for sweetened condensed milk. American and English consumers, however, seem to prefer evaporated milk.

Cheese. The Netherlands supplies the major portion of the cheese imported into Cuba. The United States is the only other important supplier of cheese, and in 1920 imports from this country exceeded those from the Netherlands. In 1913, out of total imports of 5,128,000 pounds, 90 per cent came from the Netherlands. In 1923 the total imports amounted to 4,995,000 pounds, of which 65 per cent came from the Netherlands and 28 per cent from the United States.

Butter. The United States and Denmark are the principal sources of butter, although Spain and the Netherlands each supply a fair proportion of the imports.

The total imports of butter into Cuba have been considerably larger than in 1913. In the latter year imports totaled 1,551,000 pounds as compared with 1,677,000 pounds in 1922 and 2,285,000 pounds in 1923. The quality and keeping power of the Danish butter is said to be the best on the Cuban market.

FRUIT

The imports of fruit into Cuba are not large. Nevertheless, they make up a sizeable item in spite of the fact that Cuba is a large producer of many varieties of fruit.

Fresh fruit.-Apples and grapes are the principal fresh fruits imported into Cuba. The United States furnishes practically all the apples and, since the war, has been the principal source of grapes. In 1913 Spain was the chief supplier of grapes.