Browse Data and Analysis

The Caribbean Basin region continues to experience growth, driven primarily by the steady rise in tourism, which in turn impacts consumer demand.

In a budget bill passed on June 13, 2025, the semi-autonomous Zanzibar government raised the excise duty on imported frozen chicken from approximately USD $0.12 per kilogram to approximately USD $0.39 per kilogram, with a double aim to protect the domestic poultry industry and generate USD $2.75 million in revenue.

Zanzibar presents strong potential for U.S. food and beverage exports, driven by tourism, urbanization, and demand for quality products. With over 80 percent of food imported, key opportunities include beverages, wheat, poultry, oil, confectioneries, and rice.

As a result of the increase in the 2025/26 production estimate, the 2025/26 wheat import forecast is reduced to 1 million tons.

Pakistan is an important market for U.S. food and agricultural-related products, with U.S. exports surpassing $910 million in 2024.

Tanzania retail food industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by rapid urbanization, an expanding middle class (22 percent of households), rising disposable incomes, and a thriving tourism sector that welcomed 5 million visitors in 2024.

Despite market volatility, and unstable policies, the European Union remains the largest importer of Tanzanian green coffee beans, buying six times as many beans as the United States.

Sugar production in 2025/26 is projected to reach 6.6 million tons, which is 13.7 percent higher than the 2024/25 estimated production. This increase is based on expectations for improved sugar content and average cane yield.

Wheat production is projected to fall to 27.5 million tons in 2025/26 due to a decrease in cultivated area and extremely dry weather. This shortfall in domestic production is expected to lead to increased imports, forecast at 1.7 million tons.

FAS Dar es Salaam expects a ten percent decline in corn exports for marketing year (MY) 2025/26 as production decreases and strict export permit procedures continue to stymie shipments.

This report highlights the food processing industry, its drivers, key players, and market landscape in the Caribbean Basin. The region relies heavily on imports, and the United States is the largest supplier of food ingredients.

Following the resumption of genetically engineered soybean imports after two years, soybean imports are forecast to rebound to 2 million tons in 2025/26. With a slight increase in domestic production expected, rapeseed imports are forecast to decline.