Cuba Increases Fuel Imports from U.S. Amidst Intensified Sanctions
Cuba has significantly increased its fuel imports from the United States, purchasing nearly $96 million worth of fuel in the first half of 2026. This marks an unprecedented rise in U.S. energy exports to the island, driven by a deliberate policy to supply the Cuban private sector while intensifying sanctions against the state apparatus. The imports include a variety of petroleum products, with the largest share being low-sulfur light fuel oil. The increase in imports comes as Cuba faces a severe energy crisis, exacerbated by the cessation of oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico. The U.S. has implemented a policy that allows the export of petroleum products to private Cuban entities without specific authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). 
