According to documents and data on shipping, U.S. suppliers shipped approximately 30,000 barrels of fuel this year to Cuba's private industry. This suggests a Trump administration plan to give the private sector a boost over state-run enterprises is in full swing.

Since January, the United States enforces a de-facto oil blockade on its longtime enemy Cuba in an attempt to starve Cuba's government of fuel and compel it into submission.

The small, but vital private sector of the Communist-run nation is exempted.

U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio said that authorizing these fuel exports is part of a larger Trump administration policy. "Entirely designed to place the private sector, and private Cubans who are not affiliated with government or the military in a position of privilege."

The private sector imported 30,000 barrels of fuel since early February, which is approximately 1.27 millions gallons of fuel (4.8 million liters). This is just over a tenth of the capacity of a medium-sized fuel tanker, and only a fraction the country's requirements.

Cuba imported 100,000 barrels of fuel per day to power its power plants, and for vehicles and jets.

The previously unknown figures show that Rubio's plan has been advancing. According to the shipping documents viewed by, the imported volumes are increasing week after week.

Container Ships Bring a Variety of Products

Since Washington captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in January, it has blocked Venezuelan oil deliveries to Cuba's Government and threatened to slap a tariff on any country that ships fuel to the island.

Last week, Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the island has not received fuel for three months. He did not mention the private sector.

In 2026, so far, 61 container vessels carrying a variety products imported by private firms - including gasoline - have discharging?in Cuba. They often ferry back and forth from Cuban to U.S. European and Caribbean ports.

According to data analyzed by LSEG, the arrivals of container ships are down from?75 in the same time period last year.

Data shows that some container ships bound for Cuba left this year from major energy hubs, where coal, crude oil and refined products were loaded. However, the majority of vessels arriving in Cuba are multi-purpose, meaning they carry different products.

The data revealed that the number of container ships from the U.S. Gulf Coast - particularly Southwest Pass in Louisiana, a vital energy corridor – is on the increase. However, most U.S. origin container ships heading to Cuba in this year left Florida.

The new fuel flows allowed some businesses, including those in the public transportation sector, tourism and electricity generation to continue operating despite the crippling fuel blockade.

Three businesspeople from Cuba said that since early February when the exports started, fuel is now trickling into companies in the private sector, which were initially paralyzed due to the blockade.

According to documents and sources, the list of companies importing fuel includes small online shops, such as grocers Supermarket23 and wholesalers that distribute goods to private markets located in urban areas.

In February, Supermarket23 informed customers that it would no longer be taking orders because of the fuel shortage. It has imported fuel since then, allowing them to resume their delivery services.

The company has not responded to a comment request.

No Fun Business

In February, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security released guidelines authorizing the export and reexport of U.S. petroleum and gas products to Cuban private sector entities that meet certain criteria.

Cuba's government said that it would allow MIPYMES (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) to import fuel in order to ease energy crisis.

All three sources of information said that private companies have implemented strict controls to ensure the U.S. government's intent is not violated.

Another source said that commercial resale of fuel was not allowed - it can only be used by importers.

A?Cuban Government source' said that the Cuban authorities had also developed safety regulations to regulate private sector storage of and dispatching of newly arrived fuel.

According to documents seen by the Journal, imported fuel is mainly delivered in ISO tanks designed to safely transport and store approximately 21,600 liters on container ships.

Documents show that around 200 ISO-tanks were discharged in Cuba. Diesel is the most common import; only 1% contained gasoline. The shipping data indicates that the majority of the imports came from the United States.

Gasoline, which is more flammable and needs more care when storing?and transporting it, limits its use on an island that has very little modern infrastructure.

Sources said that some businesses have installed large ISO-tanks containing diesel alongside existing facilities. Others have signed agreements to rent idle infrastructure to store greater quantities of fuel on the island, but have restricted its distribution only to private sector firms.

Fuel exports from the United States to Cuban private companies are subject to a strict caveat.

Rubio stated in February that "if we catch the private sectors there playing games, and diverting money to the regime, or the military company... if we find out that they are moving this stuff around in a way that violates the spirit and scope of these licenses, then those licenses will canceled." Reporting by Dave Sherwood from Havana, Marianna Pararaga from Houston and Rosalba o'Brien for the editing.

(source: Reuters)