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The government of Claudia Sheinbaum has tripled the shipments of subsidized oil and derivatives to Cuba in just four months, according to a report published by the portal Mexicanos contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI).
The research, signed by Verónica Ayala, details that between May and August 2025, Mexico sent 58 shipments of hydrocarbons to Cuba with a total value of 3,002 million dollars, equivalent to nearly 60 billion pesos.
The volume sent during that period is three times greater than what was reported by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) during the last two years of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's government, when fuel exports to Cuba amounted to approximately 1 billion dollars between July 2023 and September 2024.
According to MCCI, all shipments have been made by Gasolinas Bienestar, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary created by Pemex in 2022 with the purpose of supplying hydrocarbons to Cuba under preferential conditions, serving as evidence of Mexico's financing of the Cuban regime.
The company reported losses of 5.836 billion pesos in its first year of operations, due to the fuel donated to the island, which exacerbated the overall debt of the Mexican state-owned oil company.
The maritime tracking conducted by MCCI allowed the identification that the Cuban vessel Sandino, sanctioned since 2019 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and included on the OFAC blacklist, has been used for the transportation of part of that fuel.
On August 20, the Sandino set sail from the Pemex maritime terminal in Laguna de Pajaritos, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, and arrived seven days later at the "Camilo Cienfuegos" refinery, in the central-southern part of the island.
The use of a vessel sanctioned by Washington could pose diplomatic risks and financial penalties to the Mexican government, as U.S. legislation prohibits transactions with entities included on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list.
Despite this, the Sandino has maintained its regular route between Havana and the ports of the Gulf of Mexico, according to satellite tracking consulted by MCCI.
During the second quarter of the year, fuel shipments reached unprecedented levels. In May, a shipment valued at 24.6 million dollars was recorded; in June, 38 shipments totaling 826 million; in July, 11 shipments worth 1.425 million dollars; and in August, 8 shipments valued at 726.7 million, bringing the total for the period to 3.002 billion dollars.
MCCI analysts indicate that the amount sent to Cuba is equivalent to the entire federal budget of the Secretariat of Citizen Security, led by Omar García Harfuch, and is four times greater than the money allocated by the Attorney General's Office (FGR) for the prosecution of federal crimes.
It also significantly exceeds the resources of the Multiple Contributions Fund (FAM) for basic educational infrastructure, which amounts to between 13,000 and 15,000 million pesos.
The value of hydrocarbons sent by Mexico to the island exceeds 3 billion dollars, a figure that, according to the report, is considered "extraordinary" for a company like Pemex, which is facing one of the worst financial crises in its history, with a debt of over 100 billion dollars and difficulties in maintaining its domestic production.
In addition to the Sandino, the Ocean Mariner, a vessel registered under the Liberian flag, has been identified as another of the main transporters of hydrocarbons between Mexico and Cuba.
The ship departed from the port of Tampico on May 23 heading for Santiago de Cuba, and subsequently made at least three additional trips to Cuban ports such as Havana, Moa, and Cienfuegos, according to satellite tracking records.
Most of the shipments departed from Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, although three were made from Tampico, Tamaulipas.
In most cases, the company Coreydan, S.A., a state-owned Cuban enterprise located in the same building as Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET) in downtown Havana, is listed as the importer of the fuel.
In three operations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico also appears as an importer.
The products shipped include crude oil, kerosene, diesel oil, gas oil, and gasoline, mainly intended for the Cuban refineries "Ñico López" and "Camilo Cienfuegos," both under state management.
The Mexican portal Contralacorrupcion.mx, which is part of MCCI, warns that the increase in fuel shipments coincides with a worsening of the Cuban energy deficit, as the island faces a prolonged crisis of blackouts, shortages of crude oil, and deterioration of its electrical grid.
Experts cited by the media believe that Sheinbaum's policy consolidates the energy and political alliance between Mexico and the Cuban regime, despite warnings from the United States regarding the potential financial repercussions of collaborating with entities sanctioned by the OFAC.
Meanwhile, the subsidies for fuels sent to the island are increasing pressure on Mexico's public finances, and various opposition sectors have questioned the use of national resources to support foreign governments instead of allocating them to domestic social programs.
The highest amount recorded so far occurred in July 2025, when Mexico shipped eleven cargoes of crude oil and derivatives valued at over 1.425 billion dollars, equivalent to more than 28 billion pesos, a figure that exceeds the federal budget for road maintenance throughout the country.
The MCCI report concludes that oil and derivative shipments "have turned Pemex into a diplomatic tool for energy support to the Cuban regime," while the company faces increasing losses and a sustained decline in its domestic production.
Mexico has become one of the main financiers of the Cuban regime through the continuous supply of subsidized oil. In the early months of the year, daily shipments had reached 196,000 barrels, far surpassing the historical records of energy cooperation between the two governments.
This sustained flow has positioned Mexico above Russia as the largest crude oil supplier to the island, solidifying its role as a key economic support amid the Cuban energy crisis, according to foreign trade data cited in specialized reports.
Shipments have intensified even during periods of maximum internal scarcity in the Mexican electrical grid.
Despite the magnitude of these operations, Pemex has refused to disclose the details of the shipments, claiming they are “matters of national security,” which has raised questions about the use of Mexican public resources to support a foreign regime.
The figures confirm that this support is significant: only between January and November of last year, Mexico's energy exports to Cuba reached 500 million dollars, an amount greater than the budget of several Mexican federal institutions and indicative of a sustained external subsidy policy, with no clear economic counterpart.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Increase in Oil Shipments from Mexico to Cuba
Why has Mexico increased oil shipments to Cuba?
The increase in oil shipments from Mexico to Cuba is part of a policy aimed at consolidating energy and political alliances between the two countries. During Claudia Sheinbaum's administration, shipments have tripled in just four months, reaching a value of 3,002 million dollars. This strategy seeks to support the Cuban regime amid its energy crisis while simultaneously strengthening diplomatic ties between Mexico and Cuba.
What risks does Mexico face from the use of sanctioned vessels for these shipments?
The use of sanctioned vessels, such as the Sandino, to transport oil to Cuba can lead to diplomatic risks and financial sanctions for Mexico. U.S. legislation prohibits transactions with entities on the OFAC list, and employing such vessels could create tensions with the United States.
How does the increase in these shipments affect Pemex's finances?
The increase in oil shipments to Cuba worsens Pemex's financial situation, which is already facing one of the worst economic crises in its history with a debt exceeding 100 billion dollars. The company has reported significant losses due to the subsidized fuel sent to Cuba, which increases its indebtedness and financial pressure.
What does the political opposition in Mexico think about these oil shipments to Cuba?
Various sectors of the opposition in Mexico have criticized the use of national resources to support foreign governments, instead of allocating them to internal social programs. They question the transparency of these operations and the priority given to oil shipments over addressing domestic needs.
What is the role of the company Gasolinas Bienestar in these shipments to Cuba?
Gasolinas Bienestar, a subsidiary of Pemex established in 2022, is responsible for shipping hydrocarbons to Cuba under preferential conditions. The creation of this entity aims to avoid international sanctions and manage shipments without going through subsidiaries that operate in the international payment system, such as PMI.
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