U.S. Petroleum Exports to Cuba Hit Record July Highs
The United States exported record levels of refined petroleum to Cuba in July 2026 following the collapse of Venezuelan oil supplies.
U.S. exports of refined petroleum products to Cuba reached record levels in July 2026, totaling 3.222 million barrels. This surge, which averaged 103,900 barrels per day and consisted primarily of diesel, follows the January 3 capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, an action that ended decades of subsidized oil supplies from Venezuela.
The increase was enabled by a February 25 license exception from the U.S. Department of Commerce allowing exports to private Cuban entities, though the exception excludes the Cuban government and sanctioned state entities. Data from the Energy Information Administration shows a dramatic climb from just 30 barrels per day in January to the record highs seen in July, surpassing historical shipment volumes from Russia, Mexico, or Venezuela.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel disputed these figures on September 23, claiming that no fuel ships had arrived in nine months. Meanwhile, the U.S. has continued to tighten sanctions on state-run oil firms, including the June sanctioning of the Cuba Petróleo Union.
