Step-by-Step Guide · Buyers

How AquiCargo Works for Cuban Buyers

You are a Cuban MiPYME, institutional importer, cooperative or NGO. This guide explains exactly how to use AquiCargo to import food, hygiene products and medicines from the U.S. legally – step by step, no technical jargon.

Total time to submit your first RFQ: 2–4 business days (includes KYB in 24–72h). The entire process works from your phone or computer.
01

Registration – 10 minutes

Go to Buyer Registration and complete the form with basic information about your organization:

  • Legal name of your company or organization
  • Entity type (private MiPYME, cooperative, NGO, state enterprise)
  • Province and municipality
  • Product categories you need to import

What you need to register: Basic information only. Documents are uploaded in the KYB step.

Can you legally import from the U.S.? Yes, if your company has an import authorization from MINCEX or MINCIN, or if you are an NGO with a humanitarian Purchase Order. Read Is It Legal? if you have doubts.
02

KYB Verification – 24 to 72 Business Hours

KYB (Know Your Business) is business identity verification. Required for all buyers. It protects vendors and confirms your company can legally import.

Documents needed (by entity type):

  • Private MiPYME: NIT, Certificate of Incorporation, MINCEX/MINCIN import authorization
  • Cooperative: NIT, cooperative statutes, import authorization
  • NGO: Statutes, legal registration, Purchase Order or authorization letter
  • State enterprise: REEUP, institutional authorization

What the system does automatically:

  • Automated OCR verification of your Spanish-language documents
  • Verification against the Cuba Restricted List (CRL)
  • Verification against OFAC SDN List

You will receive an email notification when KYB is approved. This process takes 24–72 business hours.

Why are you verified? U.S. vendors have a legal obligation to verify buyer identity before exporting. KYB is what makes serious vendors want to work with you.
03

Browse the Catalog

Once KYB is approved, you have access to the full wholesale catalog. You can see:

  • Available products with FOB/CIF reference prices
  • Verified vendors by product category
  • Technical specs: HS code, presentation, shelf life, MOQ
  • Price history and market trends (Pro and Enterprise plans)

Prices are indicative – the final price is negotiated in your RFQ. You can browse without commitment.

04

Submit an RFQ – Request for Quotation

An RFQ is your message to vendors saying: "I need X quantity of this product, under these conditions, by this date." The system distributes it to the most relevant verified vendors.

What your RFQ includes:

  • Specific product (with HS code if you know it)
  • Quantity in MT (metric tons) or units
  • Preferred incoterm (FOB or CIF Mariel are most common)
  • Required delivery date
  • Importer entity type (for documentation)
  • Optional additional notes

RFQ cost:

  • Buyer Basic: $99 per RFQ
  • Buyer Pro ($149/year): $39 per RFQ – save $60 per request
  • Buyer Enterprise ($799/year): Unlimited RFQs
What if you receive no quotes? Vendors have 48 hours to respond. If no response, the system automatically escalates routing. The fee covers processing, not guaranteed quotes.
05

Compare Quotes and Select a Vendor

Responding vendors send their quotes. You can see and compare:

  • Price per MT in the offered incoterm
  • Port of loading
  • Lead time in business days
  • Quote validity

Specific vendor identities are protected at this stage (you see their tier and ratings, not their name). When you select one and confirm the coordination fee payment, both identities are revealed and the Deal Room opens.

06

Deal Room – Final Negotiation and Payment

The Deal Room is the encrypted negotiation room where you confirm all final details:

  • Final price and exact conditions
  • Required documentation (proforma, certificates, packing list)
  • Payment: You must pay 100% in advance (CIA – Cash in Advance) before shipment, or via letter of credit from a third-country bank. Payment never passes through AquiCargo – it goes directly between you and the vendor.

AquiCargo automatically generates the proforma invoice and TSRA compliance checklist for your import file.

On payment: Most transactions are routed through third-country banks (Panama, Mexico, Spain). Your banking advisor can guide you on available options.
07

Shipment, Arrival and Closing

Once the vendor confirms payment received, they proceed to shipment. You will receive:

  • Container number and vessel details
  • Estimated arrival date at port
  • Shipping documents for Cuban customs clearance: Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, packing list, sanitary/phytosanitary certificates

When goods arrive and you confirm receipt in the Deal Room, the transaction closes. The complete history is archived in your dashboard as a compliance record.

FAQ – Buyers

Can my MiPYME import directly from the U.S.?

Yes, if you have an import authorization from MINCEX or MINCIN. Since 2021, private MiPYMEs can obtain this authorization to import certain goods. AquiCargo verifies your authorization as part of KYB. If you don't have authorization yet, the first step is to request it from MINCEX.

What products can I import through AquiCargo?

Only TSRA-eligible products: non-perishable food for human or animal consumption, personal hygiene products, and over-the-counter medicines. The integrated TSRA eligibility checker confirms whether a specific product qualifies. We cannot process imports of products outside these categories.

How does the merchandise arrive in Cuba?

By sea, primarily to Port of Mariel or Port of Havana. The vendor coordinates freight with their freight forwarder. Transit time from Miami is 3–5 days; from Gulf ports, 7–14 days. Freight and insurance costs are included if the incoterm is CIF; you cover freight if it is FOB.

Register as a Buyer –

KYB approved in 24–72h. No fixed cost until your first deal closes.