Associated Press

HAVANA - U.S. food producers significantly increased their sales to Cuba last year despite a long-standing trade embargo against the communist island, according to a Cuba-U.S. business group.

The New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council said in a report released Monday that U.S. companies exported $392 million in products to Cuba during 2004, up from $257 million in 2003.

The sales - including wheat, corn, rice, chicken and soybean oil - pushed Cuba to No. 25 on a list of 228 foreign markets supplied by American food exporters.

Under an exception to the embargo passed in 2000, American agricultural goods can be sold to the island but on a cash-only basis.

Since then, the island has steadily increased its standing, from 144th place in 2001, 50th place in 2002, and 35th place in 2003.

"That's a spectacular increase," council president John Kavulich said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

The increase in Cuba's purchases of American food comes despite the tightening of long-standing commercial and travel restrictions against the island by the Bush administration.

At the same time, U.S. lawmakers - particularly from farm states - and others are pushing for an end to the restrictions.