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The state-owned company Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) refused to show the payment receipts from Cuba to Mexico for the shipments of oil it has been carrying out since July 2023.
Following a request for information from the newspaper El Universal, Pemex stated that payments to Cuba through the subsidiary Gasolinas Bienestar are a private matter.
“Gasolinas Bienestar, S.A. de C.V. is a subsidiary of Petróleos Mexicanos that, in accordance with Article 63 of the Public State Enterprise Law, Petróleos Mexicanos, is constituted as a private commercial company and does not constitute a state-owned entity. Therefore, it cannot be considered a subject obligated to comply with transparency requirements under Article 117 of the Public State Enterprise Law, Petróleos Mexicanos,” the communication states.
Gasolinas Bienestar was created by the Mexican government to avoid doing so through PMI, the subsidiary that trades with the United States, thus not violating the laws of the embargo.
The subsidiary is established as a private company and is not obligated to comply with transparency regulations.
Pemex's response, according to the director of Transparencia Mexicana, Eduardo Bohórquez, contradicts the provisions of Article 6 of the Constitution, which states that obligated subjects must preserve their documents in updated administrative archives and must publish complete and current information regarding the management of public resources and the indicators that allow for accountability in meeting their objectives and the results achieved.
"It is not because of its status as a state-owned or private company that the information should be provided, but rather because the legal entity receives or exercises public resources," said Bohórquez.
“Pemex's response to EL UNIVERSAL's request may be subject to review by the new transparency bodies or by the judiciary. And it is very likely that the company would be required to provide it. However, the greatest pressure should come from society. Taxpayers should care about how a company that, in discourse, belongs to all Mexicans is managed,” added the director of Transparencia Mexicana.
"The agreements or deals made with other nations can impact the country's energy security and, consequently, the security of the State," he concludes.
From July 2023 to June of this year, Pemex sent between 19,000 and 23,000 barrels of crude oil daily to Cuba, with a total value of 1.3 billion dollars, representing 3.3% of Pemex's total exports.
Mexico continues to send large quantities of oil to Cuba
Mexico has intensified the shipments of subsidized hydrocarbons to Cuba in 2025, with operations significantly exceeding those carried out in previous years.
A report by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI) revealed that between May and June of this year, Pemex recorded 39 shipments to the island with a total value of 850 million dollars, equivalent to about 16 billion pesos.
The export volume in that single month —10.2 million barrels of crude oil and 132.5 million liters of jet fuel, diesel, and regular gasoline— nearly matches the value of the shipments accumulated over the previous two years, which amounted to 1 billion dollars between July 2023 and September 2024.
According to foreign trade records consulted by MCCI, the operations were carried out through Gasolinas del Bienestar S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Pemex created to export hydrocarbons to the island, despite the National Institute of Transparency ordering the oil company to disclose details such as quantities, costs, and responsible parties, following allegations of a lack of transparency.
Most of the shipments departed from the customs in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, while one left from the port of Tampico, Tamaulipas, with 6.8 million liters of diesel.
Shipments continued in July, according to satellite tracking.
In fact, on August 11, the Cuban tanker Sandino was anchored off the Pemex maritime terminal in Laguna de Pajaritos, Coatzacoalcos, from where the shipments are supplied. The ship had previously departed from Havana on June 27.
The state-owned Cuban company Coreydan, S.A., located in the building at Calle Amistad 552 in Centro Habana, also serves as the importer for these operations, which is also the headquarters of CUPET (Cuba-Petroleum Union), the state-owned company that controls the island's oil industry, the report reveals.
In a shipment on June 19, which included eight million liters of gasoline, the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico (SRE) was even registered as the importer, according to customs documents.
These movements confirm the close energy cooperation between Mexico and Cuba at a time when the island is experiencing a severe economic and energy crisis, characterized by prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages.
Furthermore, Mexico did not heed the recommendations from the United States, which canceled an $800 million loan to PEMEX in 2023 after discovering that the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador had given fuel as a gift to the regime in Cuba.
In February, it emerged that PEMEX was facing a debt of over 300 million dollars for oil shipments to the island in the past two years.
Although Mexico denied that it was giving fuel to the island, shipments have surged without any clarity on how they are being paid for.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pemex Oil Shipments to Cuba
Why does Pemex refuse to provide information on oil shipments to Cuba?
Pemex argues that payments to Cuba through its subsidiary Gasolinas Bienestar are a private matter, as this subsidiary is established as a private law company and not as a state-owned entity. Therefore, they claim they are not obligated to provide information under transparency laws. However, this stance is questioned by transparency experts who point out that details should be published since public resources are being managed.
How much oil has Mexico sent to Cuba and what is its value?
From July 2023 to June 2025, Pemex has sent between 19,000 and 23,000 barrels of crude daily to Cuba. The total value of these shipments has been approximately 1.3 billion dollars, representing 3.3% of Pemex's total exports. In the first quarter of 2025, 19.6 thousand barrels were sent daily, amounting to about 166.5 million dollars.
How does Pemex's debt affect oil shipments to Cuba?
Pemex faces a significant debt of over 300 million dollars due to oil shipments to Cuba in the last two years. This debt adds to the financial commitments of over 101 billion dollars of the oil company, raising questions about its financial viability and the lack of transparency in these operations. Despite this, shipments have continued, which may jeopardize Pemex's economic stability.
Why does Mexico continue to send oil to Cuba despite the criticism?
Mexico has continued oil shipments to Cuba as part of a close energy cooperation, at a time when the island is facing a severe economic and energy crisis. The Mexican government, ideologically aligned with the Cuban regime, views these shipments as a political strategy, despite criticisms from the United States and concerns about the transparency and financial impact of these operations for Pemex.
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