Mexico Plans to Resume Oil Exports to Cuba

Mexico City (AP) — Mexico aims to soon restart oil shipments to Cuba. This plan will be executed via commercial channels using private companies, as announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum in her morning conference.

Sheinbaum’s decision comes after the U.S. targeted Venezuela and captured former president Nicolás Maduro on January 3. Following these events, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on nations supplying fuel to Cuba. This exacerbated the energy crisis on the island.

Mexico, historically a fuel provider to Cuba alongside Venezuela and Russia, halted several shipments planned by the state-owned Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). The only tanker reaching Cuba was a Russian vessel docking on Cuba’s northern coast in late March with 730,000 barrels of oil.

Cuba recently passed laws allowing economic liberalization. Sheinbaum wishes to leverage these changes through Mexican entrepreneurs present in Cuba to resume fuel supplies. She stated that specific private companies have the necessary permits to deliver fuel to Cuba, but details on how it would be executed remain sparse. While commercial resumption is hoped for soon, no timeline was provided. Mexico will continue humanitarian assistance alongside commercial efforts.

Cuba currently generates only 40% of the fuel it requires. It relies heavily on imports to maintain its deteriorating electrical infrastructure. The U.S. energy embargo has severely worsened the economic condition in Cuba, leading to longer power outages, food rationing cuts, and shortages in water and medicine.