Cuban content creator David Guerra (@yodavid95) has taken to Instagram to express his outrage over the sale of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in dollars via e-commerce platforms in Cuba.
“You’re all very revolutionary until dollars come into play, then you sell out. What you’ve done to Cuba is unforgivable,” Guerra declared.
He accuses the regime of holding the families still living on the island hostage to extract foreign currency from the diaspora.
The platforms Katapulk and Supermarket23 have started offering 10-kilogram LPG cylinders for $29, with delivery limited to Havana and operating on an exchange model: the customer receives a full cylinder and must return an empty one in good condition.
Generally, these platforms require a Visa card for purchases, targeting primarily Cubans abroad who wish to support their families back home. These are private businesses, not intended for those residing in Cuba who earn salaries in Cuban pesos.
Guerra succinctly outlines the regime’s logic: “First, they said no to those who left. Thousands of Cubans left, but their families stayed in Cuba. So, they put everything in foreign currency: personal hygiene products, basic necessities, oil, clothing, shoes, everything worthwhile is priced in foreign currency. Who pays for it? Those who left.”
“The Cuban people who stayed behind never gained access to anything good—no decent shoes, no nice clothes, nothing—because all of that was in the dollars you prohibited,” he added.
The content creator points out that now, even LPG and elder care facilities are part of this dollarized economy: “They want those who left, the Cubans you (the regime) expelled from Cuba, to pay.”
The $29 price tag for a gas cylinder translates to approximately 15,660 Cuban pesos on the informal market, a staggering amount for most workers on the island, whose average monthly salary is about $15 by informal exchange rates.
The gas is imported from the United States by Cuban small and medium-sized enterprises operating with licenses granted by the U.S. government, marking what is described as a new multimillion-dollar business capitalizing on the collapse of state supply chains.
The rapid dollarization by the Cuban regime now includes nearly 30 state-run gas stations selling fuel exclusively in foreign currency since 2024, ETECSA telecommunications since May 2025, and now LPG, the essential cooking fuel for millions of Cuban households.
Understanding the Impact of Dollar-Priced LPG Sales in Cuba
Why is the sale of LPG in dollars controversial in Cuba?
The sale of LPG in dollars is controversial because it targets Cubans living abroad, requiring foreign currency not accessible to most residents who earn in Cuban pesos. This policy is seen as exploiting the diaspora to extract foreign currency while marginalizing those on the island.
What are the implications of dollarization in Cuba?
Dollarization in Cuba means that essential goods and services are priced in foreign currency, excluding many locals. It reflects the regime's reliance on foreign currency and impacts the economy by prioritizing the needs and spending power of the diaspora over residents.