Cuba’s public transport plunges to all-time low amid US fuel blockade, minister says

Cuba's transportation minister, Eduardo Rodriguez Davila, has declared that the country's public transport system has hit an all-time low due to a US-imposed fuel blockade. With virtually no fuel available, moving millions of people across the 780-mile island nation has become a daily challenge. Rodriguez Davila, a former mechanical engineer, told Reuters that passenger trips on public transportation are projected to drop by 75% this year compared to last.

Bus service from Havana to the provinces has plummeted from 419 daily in 2025 to just 11 trips this year, with inter-urban transportation falling by 90%. The island's freight transport is also expected to plummet to around 20 million tonnes this year, less than a third of the 70 million tonnes moved last year. Cubans are resorting to hitchhiking, impromptu carpooling, and more expensive private transportation, with electric options growing in popularity despite their high cost.

The transportation ministry has purchased 60 solar charging stations to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, but many are still struggling to operate due to the lack of electricity.