Cuba is left without oil imports: Energy crisis worsens for the first time in a decade

Cuba has gone a full month without oil imports for the first time in a decade. The Caribbean island nation was without any external fuel supplies in January, which was a serious blow to its economy and energy system. Bloomberg reports, citing industry data and analysts.

A key factor was Mexico’s decision to completely cut off oil supplies to Cuba. The decision worsened the situation for a country that has already suffered from a long-standing fuel shortage. Mexico became Havana’s main supplier after US President Donald Trump last month ordered the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and cut off fuel supplies from Venezuela, communist Cuba’s closest and most loyal ally.

According to Bloomberg, regular monthly shipments of crude oil from Mexico allowed Cuba to produce enough gasoline to meet domestic demand for about a month. The loss of this source of supply effectively deprived the island of the ability to maintain a stable production of motor fuel.

According to shipping reports and analytical company Kpler Ltd, in January, oil imports to Cuba fell to zero for the first time since 2015. At the same time, the threat of a supply disruption became apparent in December, when the United States began a naval blockade to pursue the so-called “shadow fleets” that transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Russia.

The administration of Donald Trump seeks to increase pressure on the communist government of Cuba after the overthrow of the socialist leadership in Venezuela. Restricting access to fuel is becoming one of the key tools of this pressure, which directly affects the Cuban economy and the daily lives of the population.

The effects of the fuel crisis are already being felt across the country. In Havana, lines at gas stations are getting longer and longer, and shortages are not only for gasoline but also for cooking gas, water and electricity. In addition, the lack of jet fuel has forced the authorities to warn airlines that they will not be able to refuel on the island for the next month, and at least two major beach resorts have been forced to close due to a lack of gasoline.

Cuba has been under US sanctions since the 1960s, but supplies of Mexican oil, disguised as humanitarian aid, have allowed the country to maintain basic operations. According to Kpler, Mexico and Venezuela provided almost 80% of Cuba’s imported oil needs last year.

At the same time, it is difficult to estimate how long Cuba will be able to use its existing fuel reserves, as the authorities do not disclose this information. In a rare comment made in 2024, a government official said that gasoline demand in the country of about 10 million people is about 8,200 barrels per day and is only partially met due to sanctions and blockades.