20 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Cuban Commercial Matters 



Petroleum Imports 



Imports of mineral oils into Cuba during the fiscal year 1921-22 (ending June 30) 

 totaled 271,917 gallons, according to figures just made available by the statistical 

 division of the Cuban Treasury Department. ^Mexico furnished 171,170,842 gallons 

 of this amount, its shipments consisting entirely of crude and fuel oil, while the refined 

 oils were practically all of American origin. The total imports were slightly less than 

 those reported for the Calendar year 1921, amounting to 292,932.589 gallons. Official 

 Cuban statistics, showing kinds, grades and countries of origin of petroleum products 

 imported are complied for both calendar and fiscal years, but the publishing of these 

 statistics is usually considerably delayed. The figures for the year 1021-22 are given 

 in the following table : 



Petroleum imports into Cuba, fiscal year ig2i-2? 



Products 



Crude Oil 



Gas Oil 



Fuel Oil 



Other crude . . 



Benzine 



Gasoline 



Naphtha 



Kerosene 



Other refined . 



In addition to these products, the United States also shipped 445,602 kilos of tar 

 and 242,730 kilos of asphalt to Cuba in the fiscal year 1021-22. 



Distribution and Prices 



The port of Habana is the largest and most important distributing center in Cuba 

 for the handling of petroleum products. Importations are made both in bulk and in 

 containers, and there are three companies which have extensive facilities for the 

 storage of bulk oil. Distribution of oil from storage is by pipe lines, tank wagons, 

 barges and railroad tank cars. The larger companies handling petroleum products in 

 Cuba maintain their own branches, with distributing terminals at various points, such 

 as Antilla, Matanzas. Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo, and do not employ 

 agents on a commission basis. 



■WTiolesale prices of the principal petroleum products at the middle of May were 

 as follows: Crude oil, for fuel, $1.85 per barrel, f. o. b. ; lubricating oil, 45 cents to 

 $1.50 per gallon; gas oil, 17 cents per gallon; gasoline, 36^ cents per gallon; and 

 kerosene, 20>>4 cents per gallon. The barrel of 42 gallons is generally used, except 

 where shipment is made in tank cars, and light and heavy drums ajre also used, the 

 latter being returned and credit allowed. There is one refinery located at Belot 

 (Habana), and the importations of crude oil for refining are said to average approxi- 

 mately 2,500.000 gallons per month. — Consul General Carlton Bailey Hurst, Habana. 



