Sales last year to the communist island reached $437.7 million, up from $340.4 million in 2006 and $350.2 million the previous year, according to the U.S. Trade and Economic Council in New York.

Cuban claims to have purchased some $600 million in goods from U.S. companies in the last year, a figure that includes transportation charges and other fees payable to U.S. companies.

Agricultural products sold to Cuba are exempted from the U.S. trade embargo as humanitarian goods.