ALFICSA Cuba’s Largest Distillery Reopens

Cuba’s largest distillery Alcoholes Finos de Caña S.A., Alficsa Plus S.A. (ALFICSA) is in the startup phase after new investment with Spanish partners and modernization of the plant.

The Cienfuego’s distillery which had been shut down for seven years, will be producing high quality alcohols for the national and foreign export markets.

Renovations and modernization began May 2018 as part of an investment process with Spanish partners. The deal amounted to $4.5 million US for the equipment replacement and technology updates, plus $540,000 for reconstruction.

ALFICSA will manufacture alcohols for the beverage industry, pharmeceutical industry, food industry, cosmetic industry and others.

The distillery first began operations in 1996 as Alcoholes Finos de Caña, a Spanish-Cuban business initiative and became of the most important distilleries in Cuba.

In 2000, at a cost of $11 million US, the distillery had the capacity to produce up to 270,000 hectoliters of premium quality extra-fine alcohol annually.

Cuba and Spain’s investment in the Cienfuegos distillery included modernization and automation of the factory with state-of-the-art technology from Spain.

Engineer Lucía Mayra Rodríguez Rivero and manager of the distillery, told the Cuban press that the 2019 production plan expects to manufacture 16 million liters of alcohol of the highest quality from sugarcane molasses. Approximately more than 50% will be exported. Expected revenues from domestic and international exports are forecast at $12 million.

Alficsa Plus SA’s biggest national clients are Havana Club Internacional, Cuba Ron and Suchel Camacho.