Shipments of diesel from various countries are arriving at the port of Mariel
14ymedio, Havana, February 17, 2026 — Cuban private companies are importing oil authorized by the government, Martí Noticias confirmed on Monday. Anonymous sources consulted by the Miami-based news outlet stated that shipments of diesel in ISO tanks are already being sent from various countries. “Each unit can transport around 24,000 liters, and delivery is made at the port of Mariel directly to the clients,” said one of the sources.
This method of transport makes it possible to deliver smaller and more flexible shipments, and is less conspicuous than traditional cargoes on large ships.
Sources added that companies with active licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce were involved in operations related to fuel supply. “It’s being handled with the utmost discretion. There are fears that the Trump Administration could also restrict this channel, although after recent statements by Marco Rubio, there are expectations that no measures will be adopted that directly affect SMEs*,” one of the sources told Martí Noticias.
The news came just hours after the company Sonicarpa SRL posted a notice on social media outlining the requirements for importing oil, which had been permitted without further details in recent weeks. On February 7, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, announced the savings plan to address the oil blockade, stating that the government was facilitating and authorizing any company with the capacity to purchase fuel to do so. “We have decentralized, you could say, fuel imports,” he stated, without elaborating further.
Expectations about the viability of this initiative had generated skepticism in public opinion. On Monday the list of indications was finally made public, the first of which is to have the authorization of the Institute of Physical Planning on the location of the fuel depots, leased to Cuba Petróleo (Cupet) or to another state company.
Furthermore, obtaining certification from the Fire Department that guarantees the safety of the storage is essential. The fact that the state-owned facilities already have the necessary permits—which must also be insured by the company Esicuba—affects the situation, while simultaneously expediting the contracting of state-owned storage facilities.
Private companies must also submit a shareholders’ agreement demonstrating that the fuel will be used for the company’s authorized activities. Finally, SMEs must import the fuel through a state-owned company such as Quimimport or Maprinter, which will manage the purchase. This requirement has generated considerable discontent on social media, where many are demanding that companies be able to purchase fuel directly.
“It wouldn’t be profitable for any private company to pay $85 for a barrel of oil on the international market, then have the state importer apply a tax, and then have to pay Cupet for the specialized truck and storage space. It is even less profitable to sell it domestically. At what price, if after all those expenses a barrel of oil costs you $150 or $200?” one user wondered.
Another question raised by the information is whether the US will allow these sales, which will go through the State, amidst an energy blockade decreed at the end of January by Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on any country that supplies fuel to Cuba.
At the 8th Investment Forum of the Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2025) held last November, Óscar Pérez-Oliva promised that the new package of measures to “correct distortions” and revive the Cuban economy would include an evaluation of which foreign companies could import fuel “when necessary.” Amid the current energy crisis, no concrete details have yet been provided regarding the implementation of this measure.
*Small and Medium Enterprises (‘mipymes’ in Spanish), generally privately operated.
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