This is about circumventing the US measure that only authorizes small private businesses to import petroleum products
14ymedio, Havana, May 12, 2026 / Starting at midnight on Friday, May 15, the fixed price for gasoline purchases will be eliminated. The Cuban regime announced this Tuesday through its media, stating that “the sale prices of fuels in foreign currency will be updated, either upward or downward, according to the actual costs of each specific transaction.”
“The gradual process of social and economic transformations that Cuba, in its legitimate and sovereign right, has been carrying out has allowed multiple actors to import and sell fuel in foreign currency,” states the press release published in official media. The statement does not specify what has “allowed multiple actors” to import and sell fuel; that is, not only the Cuban government’s willingness—which since February has facilitated the purchase of fuel by any company with the means to do so—but also the permit issued by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for Cuban private entities to import fuel from the United States, provided that regime institutions are excluded.
“Different retail fuel prices will coexist, reflecting the actual import costs for each economic actor.”
Without mentioning any of this, the official statement reports that from now on “different retail fuel prices will coexist at service stations, reflecting the actual import cost for each economic actor; this will be influenced by the supplier, freight costs, supply route, insurance, risks and international market fluctuations.”
Until now, it explains, “a fixed price for the sale of fuels was maintained as a policy of protection against the changes and instabilities inherent in a turbulent market, which cannot be economically sustained under the current conditions.”
However, the mere fact that the government issued a statement dictating a price policy supports the hypothesis that Havana is, in reality, circumventing the US regulation by de facto intervening in the newly privatized market. This newspaper has documented how Cupet not only leases state-owned gas stations to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), but also serves vehicles belonging to state-owned companies at these stations , which is expressly prohibited by the OFAC order.
“Cuba demands its inalienable right to import fuels to guarantee the country’s economic and social development and the well-being of its people.”
Far from apologizing, the regime asserts: “Cuba demands its inalienable right to import fuels to guarantee the country’s economic and social development and the well-being of its people.”
US oil sales to Cuba surged in March, reaching $8,788,501 in a single month. According to the latest figures from the US-Cuba Trade Council, the total value of gasoline, fuel oil, diesel, and lubricants in the first quarter of the year reached $11,624,773, indicating significant growth in March compared to the previous month.
In February, US-Cuba Trade already reported a quantitative jump in the figures, with almost 2.44 million dollars – 2.2 in fuel oil and 162,100 in gasoline, which is more complex to transport in isotanks (tank containers of just over 20,000 liters).
Broken down by product, this March, light fuel oil was one of the most purchased items, totaling $3,066,920, although petroleum oils were the star performer, reaching nearly four million dollars. Additionally, $490,223 was spent on gasoline, three times more than the previous month. All shipments originated from Florida, New Orleans, and Houston.
______________________
COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.