Mexico Downplays Oil Shipments to Cuba Amid US Trade Concerns
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Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), characterizes its crude oil exports to Cuba as “very, very little,” even as the nation navigates potential trade sanctions from the United States.
Mexico is walking a tightrope, attempting to balance longstanding political support for Cuba with growing pressure from Washington. Details of the oil trade emerged following a presentation on Pemex’s investment plan for 2026 on Wednesday, February 4, where company officials were pressed for figures regarding energy exports to the island nation.
A Limited Commercial Relationship
According to Victor Rodriguez, director of Pemex, a formal commercial contract for crude oil shipments to Cuba has been in place since 2023, coinciding with the administration of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Since then, Pemex has sold approximately $1.4 billion in crude oil to Cuba. However, officials were quick to emphasize the relatively small scale of these transactions.
“Last year (2025) it was less than 1 percent of crude oil production,” Rodriguez stated. “And in terms of the sale we have of oil products, it is 0.1 percent of Pemex’s sales.” Last year’s sales were calculated at $496 million.
Prioritizing Domestic Energy Needs
The continuation of oil shipments to Cuba is intrinsically linked to Mexico’s evolving energy policy. Rodriguez explained that the contract operates on a flexible basis, contingent upon Pemex’s product availability and Cuba’s specific requests. “The contract is open, it is based on their needs, they request us based on our availability,” he said.
The director further framed the supply within the context of a broader governmental strategy to prioritize domestic crude oil processing. “The policy of former President López Obrador was very clear (…) The crude oil produced in Mexico is for the benefit of the Mexican,” he noted. Pemex’s overall export volume is decreasing as more crude oil is utilized in national refineries.
Political Support and Humanitarian Aid
President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly defended Mexico’s support for Cuba, citing both commercial and humanitarian considerations. She vehemently rejected any suggestion of a lack of transparency in the bilateral relationship. “There is nothing hidden, there is nothing dark, there is nothing bad that is being done. Cuba has always been supported,” she asserted.
However, Mexico recently acknowledged a temporary “brake” on shipments to Cuba in an effort to preempt the activation of tariffs by the United States. Despite this pause, Mexico maintains its commitment to providing humanitarian aid to the island, though the specifics of that support remain undefined.
Sheinbaum acknowledged the complex international context surrounding the energy supply, particularly in light of impending trade sanctions from the United States. Nevertheless, she reaffirmed Mexico’s dedication to humanitarian assistance. “We are going to send humanitarian aid in the meantime, while the oil issue is resolved,” she stated.
Sheinbaum underscored that support for Cuba is deeply ingrained in Mexican society, transcending individual administrations and political affiliations. “Mexico does not abandon anyone. Neither its people nor a people that is suffering,” she asserted.
