Between May and August 2025, Mexico shipped more than US$3 billion worth of subsidized fuel to Cuba through Gasolinas Bienestar, a subsidiary of state oil company Pemex, according to an investigation by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI). The figure is three times higher than the total shipments during the final two years of the previous administration.
The Mexicanos Contra la Corrupcion y la Impunidad (MCCI) organization found that at least 58 fuel shipments — including gasoline, diesel, and crude — departed from Mexican ports over just four months, mostly from Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, with three leaving from Tampico, Tamaulipas. The cargoes were tracked through maritime monitoring platforms, showing consistent routes between Mexico and Cuba.
However, Pemex has refused to provide documents proving that Cuba paid for oil shipments since July 2023.
The oil company argues that its subsidiary, Gasolinas Bienestar, is a private company and “is not obligated” to disclose information. Between July 2023 and June 2025, it shipped between 19,000 and 23,000 barrels per day to the island for a total value of $1.3 billion, according to a report to the US SEC.
Eduardo Bohórquez, director of Transparencia Mexicana, pointed out that this violates Article 6 of the Constitution: “It is not because of its nature as a private company that the information must be provided, but because it receives or uses public resources.” He warns that this refusal raises “red flags” about a de facto privatization of Pemex, allowing subsidiaries with public resources to operate without accountability.
Between May and August 2025, the Sheinbaum administration tripled shipments to Cuba compared to the previous two years. Mexicans Against Corruption documented 58 shipments valued at more than US$3 billion (60 billion pesos). In July alone, eleven shipments valued at $1.425 billion were shipped, exceeding the federal budget for highway maintenance.
Some shipments were made on the Sandino, a vessel that has been on the U.S. OFAC blacklist for illegal activities since 2019. Gasolinas Bienestar was created specifically to avoid using PMI, the subsidiary that trades with the United States, and thus avoid sanctions under the embargo. However, this subsidiary reported losses and debts of $5.836 billion pesos.
Ana Lilia Moreno of México Evalúa pointed out that these private subsidiaries allow Pemex to avoid reporting results and conceal information, as happened with Dos Bocas and Gas del Bienestar. Meanwhile, Pemex is the world’s most indebted oil company, with over $101 billion in debt, has reduced its exports and lost revenue in dollars. Sales to the United States have fallen 40% in two years.
Sources: El Financiero / MCCI
