Cuba fuel imports from the U.S. reach $156.8 million

Cuba has seen a significant surge in fuel imports from the United States, with purchases reaching $156.8 million between January and July 2026. Data from the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council shows that July alone accounted for $61.1 million in exports, a nearly 28% increase over June. These shipments, primarily consisting of unleaded gasoline, kerosene, and petroleum derivatives, originated largely from Miami and Houston.

These transactions are conducted under the Support for the Cuban People (SCP) exception from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Separately, the Cuban government reported that the U.S. embargo caused record losses exceeding $8 billion between March 2025 and February 2026. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that this figure does not include damages from recent energy restrictions or secondary sanctions applied against Cuban entities. The government attributes the country's ongoing energy crisis and frequent power outages to these economic pressures and restrictions on fuel supplies.