On Tuesday, official press outlets acknowledged a serious shortage of “basic grains” and cooking oil, items sold through the country’s rationing system. In an attempt to soften the news, which comes as no surprise to Cuban consumers, Cubadebate blamed the situation on “late deliveries” and “import delays.”

The Ministry of Commerce also warned of delays in deliveries of rice to almost half the country, mainly in the provinces of Matanzas, Ciego de Avila, Las Tunas, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.

Companies affiliated with the ministry began distributing 2,090 tons of grain, a shortfall of 33,910 from the estimated 36,000-ton supply for March. The government announced that the next monthly food ration will include a free pound of rice, courtesy of a donation, which had previously been omitted.

Cuban families have had to put up with delayed deliveries of cooking oil since January due to the “late arrivals” of imports. In Pinar del Rio, Ciego de Avila and Holguin, January’s quota has yet to arrive. The government admits that February’s deliveries are also past due but hopes that locally produced supplies will allow it to catch up this week.

Preliminary results from the 2022-2023 sugar harvest suggest that production will remain at rock bottom, far below the official target of 455,198 tons. Cubadebate also points out sugar deliveries will depend on the country’s available supply.