Mexico to Send Oil to Cuba Through Private Firms

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that Mexico would seek to send oil to Cuba through commercial and privately owned firms that hold permits to transport fuel. "The mechanism would be through private companies that have permits to transport fuel to Cuba," Sheinbaum said. " Sheinbaum added that Mexico would continue sending humanitarian aid.

The announcement follows Cuba's passage last week of 176 measures that permit more private businesses, imports and exports without state intermediation, free hiring of personnel, authorization for private banks, and investment by Cubans abroad. " Mexico had been Cuba's largest oil supplier after the island lost access to Venezuelan crude following the U.S. capture of former dictator Nicolas Maduro in January.

Sheinbaum halted those shipments in response to the U.S. embargo. Only one oil shipment has reached Cuba since the blockade began: a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels in late March. The Trump administration has blocked oil shipments and threatened tariffs on any country supplying Cuba.

In April the United Nations reported that Cuba's humanitarian needs remain acute, with fuel shortages paralyzing healthcare and creating a backlog of over 96,000 pending surgeries, including 11,000 for children. The fuel crisis has also produced rolling blackouts, rising food prices, and public health hazards from disrupted trash collection.

Sheinbaum said she is considering restarting shipments to take advantage of Cuba's new reforms and Mexican business owners already operating on the island.