China Begins Delivery of 30,000 Tonnes of Rice to Cuba Under Emergency Food Aid Program

First shipment has been handed over as additional batches arrive at Cuban ports amid ongoing food supply challenges.

By: Haitian Prime News|January 21, 2026|Havana / Santiago de Cuba

China has begun the delivery of 30,000 tonnes of rice to Cuba as part of an emergency food assistance initiative, according to an announcement published by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

Officials confirmed that the first batch of rice was formally handed over on Monday under China’s emergency food aid project to Cuba. The second batch has already arrived at the port of Santiago de Cuba, with further shipments expected to follow in the coming period.

Photographs released alongside the announcement show a formal handover ceremony taking place inside a warehouse facility, where large quantities of rice bags marked with Chinese aid labeling are visible. Representatives from both countries were present during the event.

The shipment comes as Cuba continues to face persistent food shortages linked to economic constraints, limited access to foreign currency, reduced imports, and broader structural pressures affecting supply chains. While Chinese authorities characterized the delivery as humanitarian assistance, the aid also reflects the longstanding diplomatic and economic relationship between Beijing and Havana.

China has provided Cuba with food aid and other forms of support in previous years, particularly during periods of economic stress. Cuban authorities have not yet released detailed information regarding the distribution of the rice, though such aid is typically integrated into the country’s state-managed food distribution system.

Additional batches are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, according to the embassy’s statement.

Sources

– Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (official social media statement and images)