MIAMI (AP).— The pressure from the United States on Cuba has moved from the political to the economic and commercial arena, with direct effects on fuel supplies, port operations and the supply of goods on the island, at a time when Havana faces one of its most delicate stages in energy matters.
Reports released this March 19 indicate that the maritime flow to Cuba was sharply reduced during March, amid a tougher US policy against the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel and an environment of growing caution among shipping companies, suppliers and countries with commercial relations with the island.
The most visible impact is on fuels. According to the AP report, based on data analyzed by the Windward firm, in March no tankers arrived in Cuba from abroad and port calls fell to 11, all of national origin, compared to an average of about 50 per month in 2025.
This logistical brake occurs in an economy highly dependent on energy imports. The United States Energy Information Administration has indicated that Cuban electricity generation is largely dependent on oil, while the generation and distribution infrastructure has investment and maintenance lags.
The economic impact already goes beyond the energy sector. Massive blackouts, the deterioration of transportation, the pressure on hospitals and the reduction in the cold chain for food and medicine hit both domestic consumption and commercial activity, from small businesses to basic services.
In terms of formal exchange, however, bilateral trade had not disappeared. Figures from the United States Census Bureau show that US exports to Cuba totaled 810.8 million dollars in 2025, up from 585.2 million in 2024; In January 2026 alone they amounted to 64.9 million.
This data confirms a central paradox: while Washington maintains a comprehensive economic embargo on Cuba, permitted operations continue to exist, especially on authorized goods. The US government itself maintains in its official documents that the embargo has remained in force since 1962, although it contemplates exceptions and licenses for certain transactions.
The new pressure comes not only from explicit additional bans, but also from the deterrent effect on the market. The risk of sanctions, tariffs or public accusations has increased the political and financial costs of trading with Cuba, prompting shipping companies, insurers and suppliers to withdraw or review routes and contracts.
For the Cuban economy, this phenomenon is especially serious because it reduces room for maneuver on three fronts at the same time: energy, imports of goods and operational financing. In a structure where the State retains control of strategic areas and the distribution of fuel, a logistical contraction of this magnitude translates into less productive activity and more shortages.
The flexibility announced by the Treasury in 2024 allowed tools for independent entrepreneurs, while the Trump administration stated in 2025 that it sought to “restore” a tougher policy towards Havana.
American siege
Cuba faces energy crisis due to US pressure and recent collapse of trade.
External pressure
The United States has reduced the flow of oil and trade to Cuba through sanctions, threats and military presence, causing a drop in imports, fuel shortages and an accelerated deterioration in basic services.
Crisis interna
The lack of fuel has generated massive blackouts, hospital collapse and difficulties in transportation and food, affecting millions of citizens in one of the worst crises experienced by the island in decades.
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