The private importation of fuel to Cuba is now a reality. At least two or three SMEs have completed the process and since the end of February 2026, they have been fueling their fleets at CIMEX gas stations. However, this does not resolve the country's crisis.
The monopoly was broken
For decades, the Cuban regime maintained an absolute monopoly over the importation and distribution of fuel. That has changed. Several private companies have managed to import diesel from abroad, primarily from the United States, and are now operating with that fuel on the island.
Members of the private sector confirm that imported fuel tanks have begun to arrive on cargo ships.
The process, while legal, remains shrouded in regulatory uncertainty. The government promised to issue specific regulations regarding fuel importation by SMEs, but instead, it published (apparently by mistake) an old resolution on electronic commerce.
As of now, there is no clear regulatory framework. The Minister of Foreign Trade, Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, announced on February 7 that companies with financial capacity would be authorized to acquire fuels from abroad, but the state control over the process remains intact.
How it works
The complete cycle includes: purchasing fuel from abroad, filling isotanks, maritime transportation, port operations in Cuba, nationalization through CUPET, and delivery to the point of consumption. SMEs must manage purchases through state importers such as QUIMIMPORT or MAPRINTER.
To store and consume fuel, SMEs have two options:
1. Assigned CIMEX Gas Station, where CUPET deposits the fuel for the company to supply its fleet.
2. Own storage point, which requires a project certified by CUPET, authorization from Physical Planning, and certification from the Fire Department, with a timeframe of 4 to 8 months to be operational.
What it costs
The numbers make it clear that this is not for everyone:
- A tank container (capacity 23,000-24,000 liters): ~$20,000 USD
- Diesel to fill a tank container: $25,000 - $30,000 USD
- Shipping from the U.S. to a port in Cuba: $5,000 USD
- CUPET rate for nationalization and deposit at the station: $0.12 USD/liter (~$2,880 per isotank)
- Final cost per liter delivered to the vehicle: more than $2.50 USD
- Estimated minimum budget per SME: $60,000 USD
But these figures are just the starting point. The budget does not include other operational expenses that can significantly increase the cost of importation: insurance, documentation, export margins, port fees, and internal logistics in Cuba.
And if a small or medium-sized enterprise chooses to create its own storage facility instead of relying on a CIMEX gas station, costs skyrocket: the construction and installation of a certified depot can add up to $50,000 USD more, not to mention the regulatory procedures in Cuba — certifications from Physical Planning, the Fire Department, CUPET, and ESICUBA — which involve unpredictable delays and bureaucratic obstacles that can prolong the process for months.
In practice, a SME that wants to operate with complete autonomy in its fuel supply could need a real budget close to $150,000 USD or more.
The recent easing of the Trump administration's stance toward Cuba has facilitated operations from the U.S. and also opened the door for imports from other sources.
Experimental shipments from Europe are already being reported. The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio himself, reiterated that the US is willing to provide fuel for humanitarian purposes through the private sector.
A market that is coming
Most Cuban SMEs do not have $60,000 USD to import on their own. According to an analysis by the consultancy Auge, 8,904 out of the 9,236 registered SMEs, or 96.4%, are facing severe or critical impacts due to the energy shortages. In the informal market, the price of fuel exceeds six dollars per liter.
This will inevitably create a redistribution market: the few who can import will sell to those who cannot.
Some companies are already planning distribution networks by province, certified by CUPET, to supply other SMEs. The demand is high, and fuel could become a more versatile currency than cash dollars.
Sales between SMEs, however, operate in a legal gray area that the government has not regulated.
What this does not resolve
It is important to be clear: the private importation of fuel does not solve Cuba's crisis.
It does not resolve the blackouts. The electric deficit is nearing 1,800 MW daily, with disruptions occurring 24 hours a day. Havana has experienced up to 22 hours of blackout in a single day.
It does not provide medication in hospitals. It does not repair schools, the aqueduct, or public transport. It does not finance any public services.
There is a key detail that the dictatorship prefers not to mention: for decades, the regime has partially financed itself through the resale of fuel that it imported at subsidized prices, primarily from Venezuela and Russia.
That margin fed the state's coffers. With private imports, that business disappears.
The fuel imported by SMEs is for their own consumption or redistribution among private parties. The regime is left with only a negligible fraction compared to what it used to obtain before.
The energy, health, and basic services crisis in Cuba remains unchanged. This is a step forward for the private sector, not for the country.
What it does mean
Despite its limitations, the private importation of fuel sets an important precedent.
The Prime Minister Manuel Marrero acknowledged the role of SMEs by stating that "there are contributions from non-state management forms to ensure the vitality of some important centers":
- It is the end of the state monopoly on a strategic resource.
- Represents a further step towards the economic independence of the Cuban private sector.
- Opens new business opportunities in a country where nearly everything was controlled by the State.
The future is uncertain and the dynamics are changing rapidly. But the fact is: Cuban SMEs are already importing their own fuel. What the dictatorship could not or did not want to resolve, the private sector is beginning to do on its own.
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